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' PETER AND POLLY 
IN AUTUMN 


BY 

ROSE LUCIA 

V’ 

PRINCIPAL OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL 
MONTPELIER, VERMONT 

AUTHOR OF 

PETER AND POLLY IN SUMMER” 
“peter AND POLLY IN WINTER” 
“PETER AND POLLY IN SPRING” 



AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY 


NEW YORK 


CINCINNATI 


CHICAGO 


Copyright, 11 ) 18 , hy 
• KOSP] LUG I A 


All rights reserved 


PETER AND POLLY IN AUTUMN 
E. P. I 


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MAV -9 1918 ' 


©CI.44 97234 



CONTENTS 


P.AGE 

Two Children and 

THEIR Pets 7 

Blacky’s Fish . . . . 10 

“ Fisherman’s Luck ” . . 15 

How Peter Catches Fish 16 
Polly Goes to a Wed- 
ding. Part I . . . . 2*2 

Polly Goes to a Wed- 
ding. Part II . . . 26 

The Boiling Spring. 

Part I 31 

The Boiling Spring. 

Part II 35 

At the Blacksmith’s 

Shop 39 

The Four Horseshoes . 43 

Taking Orders .... 47 
A Bite of Apple ... 54 

Peter’s Haircut ... 61 

Clotheshorse Tents . . 68 

The Tent Store . . . 73 


PAGE 

The Circus 79 

The Lost Pig .... 87 

A Cap of Burdock Burrs 93 
Playing School .... 99 
Polly’s Pupils .... 102 
Peter’s Funny Bed . . 106 

The jVIaple-leaf Chain 112 
Starting for the Fair 117 
A Bunch of Balloons . 1*22 
The Broken Show Case 128 
In the AYoods .... 133 
The Doll Family . . . 138 

Comfort 143 

Tim’s Football .... 144 
The Geography Lesson 149 
Peter’s Fifth Birthday 154 
The First Snowfl.a.kes . 16*2 
The Tree with a Stone 

IN It 167 

Jack Frost’s Celebra- 
tion ....... 17*2 


5 



PETER AND POLLY 
IN AUTUMN 



TWO CHILDREN AND THEIR PETS 

Do you know Peter and Polly Howe? 
Polly is a little girl. She is about as old as 
you. 

She has blue eyes. She has red curls. 
She has freckles on her face. 


7 


8 


Peter is Polly’s little brother. Have yon 
a little brother, too I i^erhaps your brother 
is like Peter. 

Do you l)lay out of doors every day ? 
Do you piek flowers '? Do you go flshiug ? 
Do you wade in the brook ? Peter and 
Pollv do. 

In the winter they play in tlie snow. 
Perhaps tlieir games are just like yours. 

They roll snowballs and make siunv men. 
They slide and they build snow forts. 

Often they play Avith their pets. Tlieir 
father’s cow, Black Bess, is one of them. 
Their mother’s horse, ]\Iarv, is another. 

Their father gave them a dog. Their 
mother gave them a cat. 

The dog has a sliort tail. He wags his 
wliole body Avhen lie Avags his tail. So 
they named him \Vag-Avag. 

You can guess Avhy the cat is called 
Blacky. 

One of Blackv’s kittens never ctcaa" lar<re. 
She stayed as small as a little kitten. She 
AAuis a dwarf.' 

Peter named her Black Baby. W ag-wag 
likes Black Baby. He lies close beside her. 
He laps her Avitli his soft red tongue. 


9 



Black Baby likes Wag- wag, too. She 
cuddles up to him and goes to sleep. 

Best of all she likes Black Bess. She 
sits for hours in the cow’s manger. 

One evening Peter and Polly went to the 
barn. They were hunting for Black Baby. 

At last they found her. Where do you 
think she was ? Why, she was curled up 
on the cow’s back ! 

After that she took many naps there. At 
night she nearly always sleeps with Black 
Bess. 


10 



BLACKY’S FISH 

Blacky is a wise old cat. She likes milk 
very well. She likes potato very well. 

Better than these she likes corn. She 
will gnaw it off the cob. Of course, she is 
fond of meat. But best of all she likes hsh. 

Blacky will tease a long time for cooked 
fish. Once, she even stole a piece. After 
that mother never left fish where Blacky 
could get it. Then she could not be naughty. 

One day Polly and Peter were playing in 
the yard. Tim was playing with them. 
Tim is Peter’s little friend. He lives in the 
very next house. You can find it on the 
map in the front of this book. 

Polly said to Peter, What has Blacky 
there r’ 

Where ? ” asked Peter. 

In her mouth, Peter. Now she has 
dropped it. I saw her coming up the road 
with it.” 

I’ll see what it is,” said Peter. 


11 


He ran to Blacky. She was sitting down 
watching what she had dropped. 

O Polly !’’ called Peter. ‘‘Come here, 
come here ! It is a fish. It is alive. It 
wiggles. Where did she get it ? ’’ 

“ I don’t know,” said Polly. 



12 


‘‘ Perhaps she stole it out of somebody’s 
kitchen,” said Tim. 

People do not have live fish in their 
kitchens. Do they, Polly ? ” said Peter. 

‘‘No, I guess not,” said Polly. “ It looks 
like a sucker. What is she going to do 
with it ? ” 

“Eat it, of course,” said Peter. 

But Blacky did not eat it. Instead, she 
picked it up again. She carried it to the 
kitchen door. 

There she dropped tlie fish and mewed. 
Mrs. Howe came to the door. She opened 
it for Blacky. 

Blacky took up the fish once more. She 
carried it into the kitchen. She put it down 
where her dish of food was put three times 
a day. 

Peter and Polly and Tim had followed 
her. 

“ Where did Blacky get this fish, chil- 
dren '? ” asked mother. “ Did you give it to 
her '? ” 

“No, mother. We do not know where 
she got it. It was alive when we first 
saw it.” 

“ Perhaps one of the big boys gave it to 


13 


her. Have any of them been fishing, 
Peter?” 

do not know, mother. Maybe Blacky 
caught it herself.” 

‘‘ Of course she did not, Peter,” said Polly. 

Do not be so silly. Cats cannot fish.” 

She has been in the water,” said mother. 

See ! Her fur is all wet in front. And 
underneath it is wet, too. 

I wonder if she could have caught that 
fish. I have heard of such things. Blacky 
is a wise old cat. Perhaps she is wise 
enough to go fishing.” 

If the sucker was close to the bank, she 
could catch it with her claws,” said Polly. 
'' Maybe Peter is right, after all. Tell us 
about it, old Blacky.” 

Blacky only purred and rubbed up against 
mother. 

She wishes something,” said mother. 
‘A4nd T think that I know what it is. She 
does not like raw fish. Most cats do, but 
she does not. She is asking me to cook it 
for her. And so I will. 

Here comes father. He will clean 
Blacky’s fish. You may tell him about it 
while he does so.” 


14 



In a few minutes father brought it in to 
mother. 

I do believe that Blacky is a fisherman/’ 
he said. ‘‘I should like to see just how she 
did it. Perhaps we can catch her at it 
sometime.” 

Then mother boiled the fish and Blacky 
ate it for supper. She did not offer any one 
a bite. But that was just as well. Suckers 
are not good for us to eat late in the 
summer. 


15 



FISHERMAN’S LUCK ” 

This morning I went fishing all alone, 

And sat for ’most a day upon a stone ; 

I dropped my line with care into the brook, 
And watched the little fish swim round my 
hook. 

I said, Kind fish, do bite without a worm ; 
I have one, but T hate to feel him squirm. 

If you will only please me in this way. 

I’ll give my wiggly worm to you for pay.” 

But there, I never had a single bite ; 

It seems to me they did not treat me right. 
If 1 were just a fishie in a brook. 

To please a little boy, I’d bite his hook. 

— Caroline M. Griswold. 


16 



One morning Peter went fishing. He 
went all alone. He did not take Tim. He 
did not take Polly. 

He said to himself, Blacky went fishing 
all alone and she caught a fish. I shall try 
that way, too.” 

Father had given Peter a real fish pole. 
He had given him a real line and a real 
hook. 

Peter had wished for these very much. 
He asked father for them. 

He said, Tim does not have to fish with 
a pin any more. His father has given him 
a hook. I could be careful, if you gave me 
one.” 

Is a hook all that you need, Peter 1 ” 
asked fatlier. 

No, father. I need a line and a fish 
pole, too.” 

'‘Very well, Peter,” father said. 'Vl will 
get these things for you. But you must do 
something for me.” 


17 


‘‘ Oh, yes,” said Peter. I will do some- 
thing for you. What is it ? ” 

‘‘ I will show you two places where you 
may fish. You may go to those places all 
alone. And you may take other children 
with you. But, unless I am with you, you 
must always fish at those places. Will youP’ 
Yes, I will, father. But why '? ” 

‘‘ Because those are safe places. If you 
fall in, it will not matter much. Now re- 
member, my son.” 

I will remember, father. And I will 
remember more, when T have my fish pole 
and hook and line.” 

He was very much pleased when his 
father brought these home. He said, They 
are just like the ones that the big boys 
have. When may I go fishing ? ” 

Any time mother says that you may. 



P. AND P. IN AUTUMN 2 



18 


Peter. Do you remember where the fishing 
places are ? ” 

Oh, yes,” said Peter. “ Yesterday I saw 
a sucker near one place. Perhaps I can 
catch it. 0 father! you forgot something.” 

What did I forget, Peter ? ” 

‘‘You forgot the bait. I thought that 
you would give me a whole box of worms. 
Then I should have some whenever I 
wished to fish.” 

Father laughed. He said, “ That is not 
just the way we do it, Peter. You cannot 
keep your worms very long. If you do, 
they are not good for bait. You must dig 
fresh ones every time you go fishing.” 

Peter liked to fish. He liked it best of 
all the things that he could do in the sum- 
mer. So he went often. 

He never caught a fish. But he did not 
care about that. Every time he went, he 
thought that he surely should. 

After Blacky brought home her fish, he 
said to himself, “ If Blacky can catch fish, 
so can I. I shall go again and try.” 

He went out into the garden. He dug 
one worm. He dug another. He did not 
like very well to put them on the hook. 


19 



So, sometimes, he took only one. Bnt 
to-day lie felt sure that he should need 
more. He put them carefully into a large 
tin can. 

Then lie went to a flat rock. It stuck 
out into tlie river. He put a fat worm 
on his hook. He dropped the hook into 
the water. He sat down and waited. 

It was hot on the rock. The sun was 
very bright. Peter sat still a long, long 
time. Pie did not have a single bite. 

At last lie said to himself, I will see if 
there are any fish here.” 

He crawled to the edge of the rock. He 
looked over. Yes, there were many little 
fish. Some were still. Some were swim- 
ming about. 



20 



He tried to catch one in his hand. But 
he could not. He tried to catch one in his 
hat. But he could not. Then he poked 
them with the end of his pole. This made 
them all swim away. 

So Peter put his hook hack into the 
water. He waited a long, long time again. 


21 


At last he lay down on the hot rock. He 
fell fast asleep. He slept until nearly din- 
ner time. 

What do you think woke him? Why, 
Blacky. She mewed and rubbed up against 
his face. 

Perhaps she had come fishing again. 
Perhaps she said to him, I can catch fish 
and you cannot. I am smarter than you.” 

Peter got up. He started to go home. 
Then he remembered his fish pole. He 
took it up. He pulled on the line. It felt 
heavy. 

‘‘ 0 Blacky ! ” cried Peter. I think that 
I have caught a fish, too ! ” 

He pulled more on the line. In another 
minute there, on the flat rock, lay a small 
sucker. 

I have ! I have ! Oh, I have ! ” shouted 
Peter. 

He quickly filled his can with water. 
Then he took his little fish off the hook. 
He put it in his can. And he and Blacky 
went home. 

On the way up the hill Peter said, I 
know how to do it now, old Blacky. Just 
go to sleep, and the fish will bite.” 


22 



POLLY GOES TO A WEDDING 
Part I 


Polly was very much excited. She was 
going to a wedding. So was Peter. But 
he did not care so much about it. Father 
and mother were going, too. 

Every morning at breakfast Polly talked 
about that wedding. 

‘‘Now there are only five days to wait. 
Now there are only four days to wait,” she 
would say. 

And at last she said, “ Oh, goody, goody! 
It is to-morrow 1 ” 

Mother said, “Yesterday I bought some 
new ribbon for your hair, Polly. See, liere 
it is.” 

“ It is wide, isn't it, mother? Thank you 


23 


very much. And I am going to wear my 
white dress and my white shoes and 
stockings.” 

Yes,” said mother, and your coat is all 
clean. You may wear that.” 

I think that I shall look very well,” 
said Polly. 

‘^Perhaps you will,” father said. But 
remember, ^ Handsome is that handsome 
does.’ It means that if you behave well, 
you will look well. And if you do not be- 
have well, you will not look well.” 

The day of the wedding came. Mother 
dressed Peter and Polly. Both had on 
their best clothes. How well they did look ! 

Father harnessed Mary to the two-seated 
carriage. Then off they went. 

It was not many miles to the house. 
Soon they were there. 

I am glad that we are early,” said 
mother. I promised to help see to the 
things in the dining room.” 

Oh, are there things to eat ? ” asked 
Peter. I am hungry now.” 

^'Yes, there are things to eat,” said 
mother. But they come after the wed- 
ding. So you must wait.” 


24 


I wiir unharness the horse,” said father. 

Then I will see if I can help. What shall 
Peter and Polly do? We must not let 
them get in the way.” 

Let me see,” said mother. Why, 
Peter and Polly may sit right here in the 
carriage. By and by we will come out for 
them.” 

‘‘Good-by, children,” said father. “ ‘ Hand- 
some is that handsome does,’ you know, 
Polly.” 

Peter and Polly sat in the carriage. At 
first they played that they were driving. 
But, after a short time, they wished to do 
something else. 

Then they looked around. They saw the 
barn, the henhouses, and another small 
building. 

“ Maybe that is the ice house,” said Polly. 

“ Do you think that they will have ice 
cream ? ” asked Peter. “ Oh, I hope so ! I 
hope so ! ” 

“ Perhaps they will, if that is really an 
ice house,” said Polly. 

“ Then I must see if it is, Polly. Mother 
will not care.” And down he jumped. 

He ran to the little house. A padlock 


25 



was on the door. He could not open it. 
But he saw sawdust about. So he felt sure 
that it was an ice house. 


26 



POLLY GOES TO A WEDDING 
Part II 

Oil, goody, goody ! ” Peter cried, when 
he saw the sawdust. I am sure that we 
shall have ice cream. I shall not get back 
into the carriage. It is nicer here. I am 
going to see what is around that corner.’’ 

Peter was gone a long, long time. Polly 
called to him. He did not answer. At last 
she jumped down, too. She ran around the 
corner to find him. 

There he was, looking through a fence. 

What do you think that is ? ” he asked. 
‘‘ Don’t you see ? Over there back of the 
big rock. 1 have watched and watched.” 

I see it now,” said Polly. I am going 
to climb the fence and see what it is.” 

Over she climbed. There was a puddle 
near the fence. But she took care not to 



27 



step into it. She ran to the rock. She 
peeped on the other side. 

It was an ear tliat Peter had been watch- 
ing. The ear belonged to the very largest 
pig that Polly ever saw. He was so large 
that she just looked and looked. 

By and by the pig saw her. He began 
to get up. Then Polly felt sure that he 
was as large as an elephant, at least. 

He was so large that she would rather 
see him from the other side of the fence. 
So she turned and began to run. 


28 



Peter saw the pig come from behind the 
rock. He saw the pig begin to trot after 
Polly. Perhaps the pig wished to be fed. 
Perhaps he wished to look at his visitor. 

Polly did not stop to look around. She 
just ran toward the fence as fast as she could. 
Peter screamed to her, ‘‘ Run, Polly ! He 
will get you ! Run ! Run ! ” 

Polly heard Peter. She thought that the 
pig must be very near. She was close to 
the puddle. Should she go around it ? If 
she did, the pig might catch her. 

So she jumped into it, and scrambled up 



29 



on the fence. The muddy water splashed 
over her. It spoiled her shoes and stock- 
ings. It spoiled her dress, too. 

She looked hack. The pig had stopped 
before it reached the puddle. It was poking 
the ground with its snout. 

O Peter ! ” cried Polly. Look at me ! 
Why did you shout, ^ Run, run ^ ? I thought 
that the pig was close to me. I thought 
that I did not have time to go around the 
puddle. Look at my clothes ! ” 

Just then Polly heard father say, '' ‘ Hand- 
some is that handsome does,’ Polly. Are 
you handsome now ? ” 



30 


Why didn’t you stay in the carriage ? 
The wedding is over. I went out to get 
you, but you were gone, and I could not 
stop to look for you. 

Come now, both of you. You may 
have ice cream and other things to eat.” 

Oh, oh, oh ! ” cried Polly. I have 
missed the wedding. Oh, dear • Oh, dear ! 
And I cannot even go in. 1 am too dirty.” 

Well, climb into the carriage then,” said 
father. I will bring you out something to 
eat. Peter may come in.” 

‘‘No,” said Peter. “I must stay with 
Polly. She went over the fence for me. 
And I made her jump into the puddle. So 
I must stay out with her.” 

“ Very well,” said father. “That is only 
fair. Now I will go and tell why you can- 
not come in.” And he walked toward the 
house. 

“ Tell them that it is the very biggest 
pig in the world,” shouted Peter. 

When Polly heard the people laugh she 
said, “There! Father has told them. I 
shall remember this wedding for a long 
time. And I shall remember, ‘ Handsome 
is that handsome does,’ too.” 


THE BOILING SPRING 


Part I 

Mother, may I have an egg and some 
salt ? And may Peter and I go walking ? ” 
Where, Polly % ” 

Up the road to the blacksmith’s shop. 
Then on the hill in his pasture.” 

What is up there, Polly % ” 

I am not sure, mother. The big boys 
say that there is a boiling spring on the 
hill. Do yon think so, mother ? ” 

You may go to see, Polly. Peter may 
go, too. Yes, you may have an egg and 
some salt.” 

The children started down the hill. They 
came to the railroad track. 

‘‘ Look for the trains, Peter,” said Polly. 

I do not see any, so come along, Polly.” 

Next they crossed the bridge. It was 


32 



high above the river. Some big boys were 
fishing from the bridge. 

Have you caught anything ? ” asked 
Peter. I caught a fish once, when I went 
to sleep.” 

The big boys laughed. 

I heard that your cat catches your fish 
for you,” said one. I should like such a 
smart cat.” 

She does not always,” said Peter. 

Sometimes I do. Good-by.” 

At the water tub, Polly turned to the 
right. The other road would take them to 
father’s store. 

Where are we going, Polly ? ” 

To find the boiling spring, Peter. It is 
up in the blacksmith’s pasture.” 

There is the schoolhouse, Polly. When 


33 


I am as old as you, L am going to school. I 
am five years old now.” 

Not yet, Peter. Not until October. 
Your birthday is then. It is only August 
now.” 


Then I am most five and that is more 
than half past four. I was half past four a 
long time. See, there is the blacksmith. 



r. AND P. IN AUTUMN — 3 


34 


When he heard them, he said, Good 
morning, Polly. Good morning, Peter. 
Where are yon going ? ” 

‘^We are going to find the boiling 
spring,” answered Polly. It is up in your 
pasture. Do you know just where it is ? ” 

^‘Yes,” said the blacksmith. '‘Do you 
boys and girls call it that, too ? When I 
was a boy, we always called it so.” 

"Isn’t it a boiling spring?” asked Polly. 
" See, here is an egg I brought. I am 
going to boil it in the spring.” 

" It will be fun to try,” said the black- 
smith. " Come, and I mil show you where 
the spring is. 

" Do you see the path back of the 
creamery? Follow it up the hill. When 
you get to that clump of fir trees, stop. 

" The boiling spring is there. Come into 
the shop on your way back. Good-by.” 

" Good-by, and thank you,” said Polly. 



35 



THE BOILING SPRING 
Part II 

Up the path the children went. It was 
a narrow path. The cows liad made it. 
On each side there was lovely goldenrod. 
Peter picked a long stalk. 

Now 1 am captain/^ he said. See my 
gold sword.” 

see something just as pretty,” said 
Polly. “ Over there in the tall grass.” 

Oh, yellow daisies, yellow daisies ! ” 
shouted Peter. I like those, too. I like 
them better than white daisies.” 

I call tliem Black-eyed Susans,” said 
Polly. 

'' Why do you, Polly ? ” 

I do not know, Peter. Here are the 
bars. Climb over and hold the egg. Then 
I will climb over.” 

In the pasture the grass was shorter. 
But a part of the field was covered with 


36 


goldenrod. It looked like yellow plumes. 
It was very bright. 

There are some cows, Polly. Are you 
afraid of them'? I am not.’’ 

^^No,” said Polly. ‘‘What is there to be 
afraid of? We are not afraid of Black Bess.” 

“We are not afraid of Tim’s Jersey 
cows,” said Peter. “ But Tim says that 
some cows do not like red. They will chase 
you, if you have on red things.” 

“Well, I have nothing on that is red,” 
said Polly. “ So I^m not afraid.” 

“Yes, you have, Polly. Yes, you have. 
You have on your red hair,” cried Peter. 

“ Oh, dear ! ” said Polly. “ I forgot that. 
Do cows chase hair ? I do not believe that 
they do. I shall go along.” 

Soon they came to the fir trees. There, 
at the foot of a great rock, was the boiling 
spring. It was larger than a dish pan. It 
was not deep. 

At one side the water ran out of the 
spring. It made a brook down the hill. 

“ See the sand at the bottom move, 
Peter,” said Polly. “ See the water at the 
top jump up and down. I do believe that 
it boils. Oh, goody, goody ! 


37 




38 


Now I will drop in the egg. Do not 
put your fingers into the water. It might 
burn them.” 

The children sat by the spring for a long, 
long time. They watched tlie clear water 
bubble up and down. They waited for the 
egg to cook. 

At last Polly said, That egg must be 
boiled hard by this time. I shall not wait 
any longer. I will poke it out with these 
sticks. Then I will break it. We can eat 
it. I have some salt.” 

When she took it up to break it, it felt very 
cold. 

<AVhy,” said Polly, this egg is cold. 
Eggs just boiled are hot. Father burns his 
fingers when he breaks ours in the morning. 
What do you suppose is the matter Avith 
this?” 

I know,” said Peter. ‘‘ The Avater is 
cold. [ stuck my finger into it to see. You 
cannot boil anything in cold AA^ater.” 

So it is cold,” said Polly. It must be 
good to drink. Let’s drink. It is the queer- 
est boiling Avater that I ever saAv. I shall 
take the egg and go doAvn noAv to ask the 
blacksmith about it.” 


39 



AT THE BLACKSMITH’S SHOP 

Down the hill Peter and Polly trotted. 
They followed the little brook. By and by 
it ran into a larger one. 

This large brook runs into the river,” 
said Polly. ‘^We cannot follow it much 
farther. We cannot follow it all the way 
to the river.” 

Why ^ ” asked Peter. 

Because it goes under the road, Peter. 
Don’t you remember? Here is the place.” 

Oh, yes,” said Peter. I remember. 
Well, let’s look under the road.” 

All right, Peter. But there is not much 
to see. It is dark.” 

‘‘ 1 can see through to the other side,” 
said Peter. 

So can T, now,” said Polly. And, 0 
Peter ! It is quite a big place. I am sure 
that we can walk through. Let’s go now.” 

‘‘All right,” said Peter. “ I should like 
to walk under the road.” 


40 


Dear me ! I forgot this old egg,” said 
Polly. 1 should be sure to break it. We 
must wait until some other day. Let us go 
to the blacksmith’s now.” 

Soon they were at the shop. 

‘‘Well, Polly,” said the blacksmith, “did 
the water boil ? ” 

“ Here is my egg,” said Polly. “ It did 
not cook. Maybe that is a boiling spring. 
But it is cold water.” 

“ It is really a bubbling spring,” said the 
blacksmith. “ Much water comes out of 
the ground. It comes very fast. 

“That makes the sand at the bottom of 
the spring move. It makes the top of the 
spring go up and down. The water looks 
as if it were boiling. But it is not.” 

“ It is a nice spring,” said Peter. “ I 
took a drink of the water. It was very 
cold.” 

“Yes,” said the blacksmith. “That 
water must come from deep down in the 
ground. It is the coldest spring I know.” 

“ I had a good time, anyway,” said Polly. 
“ We saw goldenrod and Black-eyed 
Susans.” 

“ That is a sign tliat autumn is almost 


41 


here/’ said the blacksmith. I can see 
another sign this very minute.” 

Where, where '? ” cried both cliildren. 

‘‘ Look on the telephone wires. The sign 
is there.” 



42 


‘‘ Oh, oh, see the swallows ! ” cried Polly. 

I never before saw so many together. The 
wires are full.” 

Perhaps you saw the very same thing 
last fall,” the blacksmith said. ‘^It happens 
every year. 

‘‘ They are thinking about flying away. 
They go south for the winter, you know.” 

‘‘ But it isn’t time,” said Polly. It isn’t 
really autumn yet. It is only next to it. 
Oh, I do not wish them to go. I wish they 
would stay here.” 

‘‘ They will not go yet. But they cannot 
stay here all winter. They could not get 
food,” said the blacksmith. 

Oh, oh ! ” called Peter. They are go- 
ing now ! They are going now ! They 
have just started ! See them ! ” 

The blacksmith laughed. ‘‘They are 
only flying about for fun, Peter. Come and 
see what I have in my shop.” 



43 



THE FOUR HORSESHOES 

The blacksmith and Polly and Peter went 
into the shop. It was fun inside. The 
children had often seen the blacksmith fit 
shoes on horses’ feet. 

They liked to watch him hammer the 
white-hot iron. They liked to see the sparks 
that the hammer made. They liked to 
watch his fire. 

^‘Why, there is Mary, our horse,” said 
Polly. I did not know that she was over 
here.” 

I have been shoeing her. She is all 
ready to go to the store. I shall lead her. 
You may both ride on her back.” 

Oh, goody, goody! ” cried Polly. Some- 
times father lets us do that.” 

Here are two presents for you, Polly. 
And here are two presents for you, Peter. 
Do you know what they are ? ” 

‘‘They look like horseshoes,” said Polly. 
“ Thank you very much. But what queer 


44 








45 


little horseshoes! Did you make them for 
Mary h I guess that they did not fit her.’’ 

I did not make them for Mary. Can 
you guess what they are for ? ” 

They are just big enough for Tim’s 
goat,” said Peter. 

They are not for Billy,” said the black- 
smith. Guess again.” 

Are they for a little calf? ” 

‘‘ No,” said the blacksmith. ‘‘ And I think 
that you had better look at Billy’s feet. 
Then I think tliat you had better look at a 
calf’s feet. You will see that 
round shoes would not fit them.” 

Then what are these for ? ” 
asked Polly. I cannot guess.” 

I made them for a pony. If 
you were my children, maybe I 
should buy you a pony for your 
very own.” 

Oh, would you ? ” asked 
Peter. I should like that. But I cannot 
be your boy, because I am my father’s,” 

Show him what I gave you. Tell him 
that you would like a pony to fit those four 
shoes. Well, Polly, what is the matter? ” 
''Nothing much,” said Polly. "I just 



4G 


dropped my horseshoes into mj apron 
pocket. I forgot that my egg was there. 
It is all broken, now.” 

1 should say it is, Polly. Come over 
here and clean up a little. Wij)e out that 
pocket. Now are you ready ? Then up you 
go on Mary. Peter first, Polly behind.” 

It is (|uite sli})pery up here,” said Peter. 

Maybe I shall slide off.” 

That will not matter, unless you have 
eggs in your pocket, too. Have you, Peter"?” 

‘‘No,” said Peter, “just horseshoes.” 

“ Then forward march,” said the black- 
smith. And off tliey started. 



47 



TAKING ORDERS 

1 know a new game, Peter,’’ said Tim. 

Where did you get it, Tim ? ” 

“1 got it from some boys, Peter. Yes- 
terday my mother and I went visiting. I 
played it then.” 

Let’s play it now,” said Peter. What 
shall we do first ? ” 

‘‘We keep a store. Every day we take 
our horse and wagon. We call on our 
customers. They give us orders. We 
write them in a book. 

“ By and by we go back to our store. 
We put lots of things in our Avagon. Then 
Ave drive around and give the things to our 
customers.” 

“ All right,’’ said Peter. “ My father 
keeps a store. We aauU play that it is ours. 
But Avhere is the book '? ” 

“ Here it is, Peter. My mother gaA^e it 
to me yesterday. We played Avith it then.” 


48 



Well, where is our Ava^oii '? ” 

There is your father’s wagon, Peter. 
It is in front of the barn. I saw it. That 
is what made me think of the game.” 

Tim and Peter climbed into the wagon. 
You drive,” said Tim. I will take the 
orders. I know just how. See my pencil.” 

'' Get up,” said Peter to his play horse. 
And off they Avent. 


49 



I wish that we had a truly horse,” he 
said. Then we could take orders all over 
the village.” 

I should rather have my goat,” said 
Tim. ‘‘I like him better than a horse.” 

Sometimes he will not go when you 
wish him to,” said Peter. That is not 
very nice.” 

I do not care,” said Tim. I like old 
Billy just the same. Here is the first 
house, Peter. Stop for me to get out.” 

Whoa,” said Peter. And the play 
horse stopped at once. 

Tim ran to Peter’s 
back door. He 
knocked. Mrs. 

Howe was in the 
kitchen. She came 
to the door. 


r. AXI) P. IX ArTKMX i 


50 


Good morning, Tim,” she said. 

Good morning,” said Tim. I am a 
store man. lam taking orders. Will you 
please order something of me ” 

‘Wes, I will. Let me see. Please bring 
me one pound of butter and one half pound 
of tea. Can you do that ? ” 

“ Oh, yes,” said Tim. “ I can bring you 
more. We have a very big store.” 

“ Then I will order a dozen eggs and a 
quart of milk. Do not let Peter bring me 
a quart of eggs and a dozen of milk. That 
is the way he played store once.” 

Peter heard what his mother said and he 
laughed. He had learned better tlian that. 
“ Good-by,” said Tim. 

“ Good-by,” said Mrs. Howe. “ 0 Tim ! 
Perhaps other families live in this house. 
Go to the side door and to the front door 
and see.” 

Tim climbed back into the wagon. 

“ Get up,” said Peter to his horse. And 
the play horse started. 

“ Did you get many orders ? How far 
is it to the next house ? ” 

“ I got four orders. Here is the next 
house. Please stop now.” 


51 


‘‘ Whoa,” said Peter. And the horse 
stopped at once. 

Tim knocked at the side door. A lady, 
with a blue dress on, opened it. Tim 
played that it was not Mrs. Howe. 

Good morning,” he said. 

Good morning, Mr. Storekeeper,” said 
the lady. Please bring me a box of salt, 
a pound of cheese, and a box of crackers.” 

“ Shall I bring you some bread ? ” 

I make my own bread, thank you. It 
is better than baker’s bread. But you may 
bring me a pound of coffee. Have you 
written all the things down? Good-by.” 

‘‘ Good-by,” said Tim. 

He climbed back into the wagon. 

Get up,” said Peter to his horse. And 
the play horse started. How far is it to 
the next house ? ” 

‘‘ Not very far,” said Tim. It is just to 
your front door. Lots of families live in 
your house this morning. Here it is.” 

‘‘ Whoa,” said Peter. And the horse 
stopped at once. 

Knock, knock, knock went Tim’s hand on 
the front door. A lady, with a large white 
apron on, opened it. 


52 


Good morning, Mr. Orderman,” she said. 

I have been watching for you. I need a 
dozen pears and a dozen peaches. I need 
a box of strawberries, too.” 

You cannot liave the strawberries,” said 
Tim. They were all gone long ago. 
They come in the early summer. It is 
almost autumn now. My mother did not 
get enough to can.” 

That is too bad,” said the lady. ‘‘Then 
you cannot eat strawljerries this winter, can 
you? Please bring me the pears and the 
peaches. 

“ You must get very hungry taking so 
many orders. Here is a bag of cookies 
for you and for the man who drives. You 
may eat them under the trees.” 

“ Oh, thank you,” said Tim. “ I like this 
place best of all. We Avill bring your 
things some other time. Good-by.” 

The driver got down from his seat. He 
unharnessed the horse. Then the driver 
and the orderman sat on the grass to eat 
their dinner. The horse had his dinner, 
too. 

They had driven so far that they 
tired and hungry. 


were 


58 






54 



A BITE OF APPLE 

Children,” said father, “ I must have 
you work for me this morning.” 

What shall we do ? ” asked Polly. I 
almost always like the things you ask us to 
do.” 

This time I am sure that you will like 
it,” said father. ’ ‘‘You see, mother is ready 
to make some jelly. And the apples are 
ready to be made into jelly.” 

“ Goody, goody ! ” cried Polly. 

“ Goody, goody ! ” cried Peter. 

“Why are you saying that?” asked 
father. 

“ Because I like apples,” said Peter. 

“ Because I like jelly,” said Polly. 

“ Then come with me, children. Put on 
your rubbers. The grass is still wet with 
dew. Here are two baskets. You may 


55 


fill them. When they are filled, bring them 
to mother.” 

Shall we fill them just once ? ” asked 
Polly. That isn’t much work.” 

‘‘Oh, no. You must fill them as many 
times as mother says.” 

“ They are so small that they will not 
hold many big apples. I could carry a 
larger basket, and so could Peter.” 

“ These are large enough,” said father. 
“ And you are not going to fill them with 
large apples, but with crab apples. They 
make good jelly. Some of the large apples 
are not ripe yet. 

“ Here we are. Now I will get up in this 
tree. I will shake the branches. Keep out 
from underneath. If you do not, you will 
get hit.” 

Father climbed the tree. He shook the 
branches. Down came the crab apples. 

“ O father ! How pretty they are ! ” 
shouted Polly. “ They are red and yellow. 
Do you think that the jelly will be red and 
yellow, too ? ” 

“ There were some on the ground before,” 
said Peter. “ But just look at them now. 
It will take us all day to pick them up.” 




56 




57 


''Perhaps mother cannot use them all, 
Peter. Yon need not pick np more than 
she can use. Now, good-by. Get to 
work.’’ 

" I shall take the very largest ones, 
Peter,” said Polly. " Maybe they will 
make the best jelly.” 

Polly and Peter filled their baskets. 
Mother emptied them. She said, " Please get 
me some more. I must make many tumblers 
of jelly. It will be for you to eat next 
winter.” 

" Will the largest crab apples make the 
best jelly, mother?” asked Polly. 

" 1 think not. But bring me those that 
have not been lying on the ground, if you 
can.” 

" I will fill my basket before you fill 
yours, Peter,” shouted Polly. " Come and 
let us race.” 

This time the baskets were full before 
mother was ready for the apples. The 
children thought that this was a joke. 

They hurried back for more. Peter set 
his basket down and picked up the apples 
with both hands. His basket was almost 
full, when he fell against it. 


58 


Over it went and the apples were spilled 
ont. He did not like this very well. 

Polly said, will wait for you. It is 
no use to hurry so. I will stop working 



and eat one of these big apples. They are 
ripe.” 

‘‘ How do yon know '? ” asked Peter. 

If they are not, you will have a stomach 
ache.” 

The seeds are all black. See ! ” said 
Polly. Besides, fether took some into 
the house last night. He told mother that 
they were ripe. So I dare to eat one.” 

Then I will eat one, too, Polly. I am 
hungry. I have worked hard.” 

‘‘You are always liungry, Peter. And I 



think that you ought to work hard enough 
to put those apples back into your basket.” 

Wait until I get this big one eaten and 
I will,” said Peter. ‘‘You don’t eat yours 
very fast. I think that you are afraid of it.” 

Polly had been walking about. She had 
been kicking the apples which lay on the 
ground. She had been watching the clouds. 
She had forgotten all about eating her 
apple. You see, she was not very hungry. 

“ I am not afraid,” she said. And she 
put the apple to her mouth for a bite. 

But she did not take that bite. Instead, 
she dropped the apple. She opened her 
mouth wide. She cried, “ Ow, ow, ow ! ” 

“ What is it ? Oh, what is it h ” asked 
Peter. 

“ Something stung me ! ” said Polly. 
“ Something stung me on my tongue. I 
know what it was, too. It was a wasp. I 
saw him eating my apple a minute ago.” 

Mother looked at Polly’s tongue. It was 
swollen. 

“Poor Polly,” she said. “I am sorry. 
But it is not a very bad sting. It will soon 
feel better. Why did you put the wasp 
into your mouth?” 



‘^He was on the apple when I took a 
bite, mother. So he got into my mouth.” 

I guess he did not like it,” said Peter. 

I p:uess he flew away as soon as Polly 
said, ^ Ow. ’ ” 

Mother laughed. ‘‘ 0 Polly,” she said, 
''this will teach you sometliing new. When 
father comes home, he will say that you 
must ahvays ' Look before you bite.’ ” 


61 



‘‘ Peter must have his hair cut soon,” said 
mother. ‘‘ It is growing very long.” 

‘^Yes, it is,” said Polly. I shall have 
to braid it.” 

That will hardly do, Polly. Boys do 
not have their hair braided. They have it 
cut.” 

‘‘ I cannot take him to the barber’s to- 
day,” said father. I cannot take him 
to-morrow. The next day is Sunday. 
And Monday is a holiday.” 

Oh, dear ! ” said Peter. Can’t you 
ever take me ? ” 

That is only four days, Peter,” said 
Polly. 


62 


‘‘ I know it, Polly. But my hair will 
grow very long. I do not wish it braided. 
Oh, dear ! Oh, dear ! ’’ 

I will not braid it, Peter. I was only 
teasing yon.” 

‘"Father,” Peter said, “let me go to the 
barber’s alone. I know where it is.” 

There was no barber where Peter and 
Polly lived. When Peter had his hair cut, 
he went to the nearest village. Peter and 
Polly always called this “Large Village.” 

“ How can you get to Large Village, 
Peter?” 

“ I can walk,” said Peter. 

“ It is four miles,” said Polly. “ I guess 
you can’t walk so far as that. T think you 
would stop when you came to F armer 
Brown’s.” 

“That is just halfway,” said Peter. “1 
think I should not stop, either. I could 
not get my hair cut there.” 

“You wait a little while, Peter,” said 
father. “ The blacksmith is going to Large 
Village to-day. Perhaps he will take you 
with him. I will go over to his shop to 
see him. Then I will telephone to you.” 

“Oh, goody, goody!” cried Peter. “I 


63 


hope he will take me. I like to ride with 
him.’’ 

In a few minutes the telephone rang. 

You may answer it, Peter,” said mother. 
'' Perhaps it is father telephoning to you.” 

" Hello,” said Peter. 

" Oh, will he take me ? ” 

"Yes, I will get ready now. Good-by.” 

" What did father say? ” asked mother. 

" He said that the blacksmith will take 
me. I must go to father’s store now.” 

Peter ran to the store. Father was busy 
with some customers. 

"Here is your money,” he said. "Keep 
it safe. Now go outside and watch for the 
blacksmith. He will soon be along.” 

When the blacksmith came, Peter climbed 
up into his wagon. The seat was high. 
Peter liked that. 

The blacksmith had two horses. Peter 
wished to drive them. So he took hold of 
the ends of the reins. He played that he 
was driving. 

The blacksmith and Peter talked of 
many things. They talked about shoeing 
horses and mending wagons. They spoke 
of ponies. They spoke of boiling springs. 


64 



Here we are, Peter,” said the black- 
smith. “ Have you your money ^ I shall 
come back for you in a little while. You 
wait for me.” 

Peter went in. He said to one man, I 
must have my hair cut. Will you cut it? 
Here is the money to pay you.” 

‘Wes, I will,” said the barber. “Climb 
up into this chair. How will you have it cut 
— short or long ? ” 


And then they talked about hair that was 
too long, and about going to the barber’s. 

At last they were in Large Village. 
They came to the barber’s shop. 



65 



It is loii^ now,” said Peter. So I will 
have it cut short.” 

^‘Verv well,” said the man. ‘‘Short it 
shall be.” And he began to snip, snip, snip 
with his shears. 


P. AND P. IN AUTUMN 5 


66 


At last the hair was cut. Peter jumped 
down from the chair. He put on his cap. 
It did not fit. It was too large. He felt 
of the back of his head. 

His hair was stiff and short. He climbed 
up on the chair and looked in the mirror. 

Oh, oh ! ” he cried. My hair is short 
like father’s. I have always wished it to 
be like that.” 

‘‘You said to cut it short,” answered the 
barber. “Was that wrong? Won’t your 
father like it ? ” 

“ Maybe he will not care,” said Peter. 
“ And anyway I am glad. There is the 
blacksmith. I must go now. Good-by.” 

“ See my hair,” said Peter to the black- 
smith. 

“I can’t see much, Peter. You must 
have left most of it behind you. Is that 
the way you were told to have it cut ? ” 

“ I wasn’t told,” said Peter. “ Maybe 
my father will not care, and I like it.” 
Peter got out of the wagon at father’s store. 

When father saw him, he said, “Well, I 
never ! Now whose boy is this ? ” 

“0 father! Don’t you know me? It is 
Peter. It is your boy.” 


67 



‘‘ So it is,” said father. But where is 
your hair? Your cap is too large.” 

My hair is at the barber’s. Do you 
care ? I like it short.” 

‘‘No, Peter. I do not, much. But I 
think that mother may care. She likes it 
cut the other way. It is my fault, not yours. 
I forgot to tell you what to say to the bar- 
ber. You wait for me here. I am going 
home to diimer in a minute. 

“ We will go together and tell mother 
about it. She will laugh. You do look 
funny. Your hair 
will grow before win- 
ter, so perhaps she 
will not mind.” 


68 



‘^Mother/’ said Polly, can you make 
us a tent ? ’’ 

A tent ? ” asked mother. What for ? ” 

‘‘To play in, mother. Some of the other 
children have tents. I should like one.” 

“ Perhaps they bought theirs, Polly.” 

“Yes, they did, mother. But I thought 
that maybe you could make one. You do 
make us things.” 

“ Perhaps I can, Polly. Let me see. Yes, 
I think of a way. Come and help me.” 

Mother went out into the back kitchen. 
She had some clotheshorses there. 

She said, “Take hold of the end of this 
clotheshorse, Polly. We will carry it out 
of doors. It is quite heavy. But you can 
do it. Now here is a good place. We will 
stand it up. Let us go for the other.” 


69 


‘‘They are just the shape of some tents,” 
said Polly. “ How did you think of them, 
mother? But they are not quite right. 
They have no roofs.” 

“That is so, Polly. We will find some- 
thing for roofs.” 

The two clotheshorses were set up side by 
side. Some old blankets and shawls were 
spread over them. 

“ Oh, goody, goody ! ” shouted Polly. 
“Now we have our tents. They are good 
ones, too. Thank you, mother.” 

“What shall we play?” asked Peter. 



70 


“ Come into my tent, Peter. We will sit 
down. Guess what I thought of playing,” 
Is it soldiers?” asked Peter. '^Soldiers 
sleep in tents.” 

‘‘No, but soldiers would be a good game. 
We can play that sometime. Guess again.” 

“ Hunters,” said Peter. “When father 
goes hunting and fishing, he has a tent.” 

“ No, but that would be a good game. I 
shall remember that one.” 

“ Indians,” said Peter. 

“No, but that is a good game, too.” 

“You tell, then,” said Peter. “I cannot 
spend any more time guessing.” 

“ We will get mother to let us have some 
things to eat. We will have a tent picnic.” 

“ That is a good game, Polly. What can 
we have to eat? And can we have some- 
thing to drink ? ” 

“We can have bread and sugar, and 
bread and jelly. And maybe we can have 
cookies. Perhaps mother will make us 
some lemonade. It is quite a hot day.” 

“ Let us ask her now,” said Peter. “ I am 
very hungry.” 

“ Oh,' oh, oh ! ” cried Polly. “ I have 
thought of something better. Let us have 


71 


lemonade to sell. We can charge two 
cents a glass. Perhaps somebody will 
buy.” 

should rather have the picnic,” said 
Peter. ‘‘I told you that I am very 
hungry.” 

‘‘But you like to keep store, Peter. You 
will like to play this.” 

“ All right,” said Peter. “ Let us ask 
mother.” 

Mother said, “Yes.” She went into the 
kitchen to make lemonade and sandwiches. 

“May we take the four wooden . chairs 
that are in the back kitchen, mother h ” 
asked Polly. “We will put boards across 
them. They will be our counters.” 

Mother said, “ Yes,” again. So Peter and 
Polly made a counter in front of Peter’s 
tent. Then, with the two other chairs, they 
made a counter in front of Polly’s tent. 

Mother gave them some clean glasses. 

She said, “ You can use each glass only 
once. It is not right to let any one drink 
out of a used glass. Polly, you may sell 
the lemonade.” 

“ Then Peter may sell the sandwiches,” 
said Polly. “ He likes those best, so he 


72 


will be glad. See, Peter! You have three 
plates full of sandwiches. Do not eat them 
all." 

^‘No," said Peter. ''I will leave a few to 
sell." And he sat down on the grass be- 
hind his counter. 

x\fter a few minutes he said, 1 am get- 
ting tired of waiting for some one to buy. I 
am going to begin to eat my things up now." 



73 



THE TENT STORE 


Peter and Polly had not really waited 
very long when Tim came past. He saw 
the tents in Peter’s yard. They were quite 
near the road. 

What are you doing ” he called. 

Are you playing something I wish to 
play, too.” 

^‘We have a store,” said Polly. ‘‘We 
are selling lemonade and sandwiches. Do 
you wish to buy ? ” 

“Yes,” said Tim. “I do. I have some 
money. My mother just gave it to me. I 


74 


was going to the store for candy. I will 
buy a glass of lemonade.’’ 

‘‘Have you two cents?” asked Polly. 
“ It will be two cents.” 

“Here it is, Polly. And 1 have more 
than that. I will buy some sandwiches. 
How much are they, Peter?” 

“I will sell you all there are on this plate 
for two cents, Tim,” said Peter. 

“ 0 Peter ! ” cried Polly. “ You must not 
do that. You do not charge enough. Sell 
him four for two cents. They are big ones, 
anyway.” 

“ I wish that I could play with you,” said 
Tim. “ I could help sell things.” 

“Come into my tent then,” said Peter. 
“ You may play with us.” 

In just a few minutes Tim’s father drove 
up the road. 

“ Father, father ! ” called Tim. “ Here is 
a store. You must stop and buy something.” 

“Whoa,” said his father to the horse. 
“What have you to sell? Why, it looks 
like lemonade. That is just what I need. 
Give me a glass. Yes, that is good. Give 
me another glass, Polly. Now, how much 
do I owe you ? ” 


75 



‘‘ Two cents for each glass, please. That 
will be four cents.” 

That is very cheap,” said Tim’s father. 

At the circus, we have to pay ten cents 
a glass. And, at the fair, it costs five cents. 
1 think that I will pay you ten cents for the 
two glasses.” 

Thank you very much,” said Polly. I 
hope you will come again.” 

Now, father, you must buy something 
to eat,” said Tim. That is what Peter and 
I are selling.” 

V^ery well,” said his father. I believe 
that I am hungry. And supper time is a 



76 


long way off. How much are the sand- 
wiches '? ” 

I will give you all there are on that 
plate for five cents/’ said Peter. 

^‘No, you will not, Peter,” said Tim. 
had just four for two cents. So that is all 
you can have, father.” 

That will be quite enough,” said his 
father. Give me four of those big ones, 
and you may have this five-cent piece. Here 
comes your grandmother, Polly. Perhaps 
she will be a good customer.” 

Polly’s grandmother lives down the road 
just a little way. She is Mr. Howe’s 
mother. 

0 grandmother, will you buy something 
from us h ” called tlie children. 

That is just what I came for,” said 
grandmother. I heard you were keeping 
a store.” 

'Glow did you hear it, grandmother?” 
asked Peter. 

A little bird told me, Peter. Haven’t 
you any cookies to sell? 1 must have 
cookies for supper. Oh, yes, 1 see them. 
Eun into the house, Peter. Get a paper 
bag for them.” 


77 




78 


Polly counted the cookies for Peter. He 
could not count very well. There were 
just one dozen. 

‘‘ I will give you ten cents for those 
cookies/’ said grandmother. And now, 
Polly, I will drink a glass of your good 
lemonade. Here are three cents for it. 
Good-by.” 

Let’s drink up the rest,” said Polly. I 
am thirsty. Besides we have enough 
money. We can eat up the rest of the 
sandwiches, too. I have thought of some- 
thing to do to-morrow.” 

Let’s have another store,” said Peter. 

No,” said Polly. ‘‘We will have a circus. 
Tim’s father made me think of it. He said 
something about lemonade at the circus.” 

“ How can we? ” asked Tim. 

“ I will think and tell you to-morrow 
morning,” said Polly. “You come down 
early. Now let’s carry the things back into 
the house.” 



79 



‘‘Boys,” said Polly, “ I know just how to 
have a circus. First we must make a ring. 
We will use sticks of wood from the wood- 
pile. I asked father if we might. 

“We will lay them down in a circle. 
You can each bring two sticks at a time. 
I will bring three.” 

It took some minutes to make the circus 
ring large enough. But, at last, it was 
done. The sticks of wood were laid end to 
end in a circle. 

“ Now let us have the circus,” said Peter. 

“ First, Tim must go home and get Billy, 
his goat,” said Polly. “ Billy is to be one 
of the performers. Bring Collie, too, Tim.” 

Collie is Tim’s dog. He is a wise and 
beautiful sheep dog. 


80 



Tim and Peter went up the hill. They 
found Billy out hy the barn. 

‘'Come along, Billy,” said Peter. “We 
need you in the circus.” 

Billy would not stir. He did not know 
what fun a circus is. 

“ I know how to get him,” said Tim. 
“ There is Collie. He will get Billy for 
us. He knows how to drive cows. 1 think 
that he can drive old Billy.” 


81 



Tim called to Collie. At last Collie muler- 
stood wliat lie was to do. He ran behind 
Billy and nipped at liis heels. This made 
Billy turn around. He put down his head. 
He chased Collie. He tried to butt him. 

Peter and Tim started out of the yard. 
Collie followed them. Billy followed Collie. 
At last they were at Peter’s. Polly was 
waiting in the ring with AV ag-wag. 

When Billy saw Wag- wag, he started 
after him. Wag-wag ran around in a circle. 
Billy chased him. 

P. AND P. IN AUTUMN G 


82 


Oil, look, look ! ” shouted Peter. 

That is the first part of our circus. It is a 
race between a <>;oat and a dog.’’ 

That is all Billy needs to do,” said Tim. 

He must not work too hard. He may go 
home now. What will come next \ ” 

I have two things to come next,” said 
Polly. 1 fixed them while you were up 
after Billy. Here is the first. We will 
draw it around the ring.” 

Polly drew Peter’s cart out from one of 
the tents. On the cart there was a box. 
It had a cover. It had slats across both 
sides. Some kind of fruit had come 
in it. 

There was no fruit in it now. Instead, 
there was a fierce, wild panther. It was 
the fiercest kind of panther, for it was 
black. 

‘‘Mew, mew, mew,” cried that panther. 
And she walked around and around the 
cage trying to get out. 

Polly said, “Be quiet, panther. You 
are a very wild animal. I must draw your 
cage around the circus ring. . Everybody 
wishes to see you. In a little while I shall 
give you a whole sheep to eat.” 


88 


'' Mew, mew, mew,’’ still cried the 
panther. Perhaps that meant, I am not 
a panther. I am Blacky.” 

‘‘ I like animals,” said Tim. I wish 
that we had more.” 

I have two more,” said Polly. I will 
show one to you in Peter’s tent. Come 
now.” 

She took the wild panther out of the 
cage. She carried her to the tent. 

She said, ‘‘ Ladies and gentlemen, here 
is the most wonderful cat in the world. 
She can catch fish. None of you have cats 
that can do such a smart thing.” 

“ Maybe that is so,” said Tim. “ But we 
can catcli fish ourselves. What comes 
next h ” 

“You do,” said Polly. “You must 
jump down from the very top of the cage. 
Go and get one of the back-kitchen chairs. 
We shall put the cage on top of it. You 
can jump from that.” 

Tim jumped several times. Then Peter 
jumped several times. Then they both 
turned somersaults. 

At last they thought they would jump 
from the top of the cage together. They 


84 



climbed up on the cage. But it was not 
strong enough to hold them. 

The top smashed in. Oft' the chair they 



85 


both tumbled, while Polly laughed and 
laughed. 

She said, I forgot to have any clowns. 
You are very good ones. Come into the 
other tent now. That is a side show. I 
have something wonderful there.’’ 

When they came to the other tent she 
said, Ladies and gentlemen, here is the 
most wonderful thing in the world. It 
is a dwarf. This dwarf will never grow 
any larger. She will always stay just the 
size that she is now.” 

‘‘Oh,” said Tim, “that is Blacky’s little 
kitten — the one that never grew up. Is 
she a dwarf ? ” 

“Yes,” said Polly. “Just think! Isn’t 
it wonderful ? How should you like to stay 
always just as little as you are now? ” 

“ 1 should not like it,” said Tim. “ Why 
don’t you feed her ? I have to eat lots of 
things to make me grow.” 

“ Feeding her doesn’t make her grow,” 
said Polly. “We have tried everything. 
She is just a dwarf She will always stay a 
dwarf. Come out now. I have one more 
thing to show you. It is a dancing bear.” 

Polly went to the circus ring. She called 


86 



to Collie. She took his forepaws in her 
hands. She made him stand up straight. 

Then she said, ^‘Come, dancing bear, come 
and dance.” And she pulled Collie after her 
around the ring. 

Peter and Tim clapped their hands. 

Tim said, ‘‘I used to call Collie, Jersey 
cow. Perhaps I shall call him the dancing 
bear, now.” 

That is all the circus to-day,” said Polly. 

But we need not put the ring back to- 
night. I asked father. 

To-morrow we can have the same circus 
and ask the other children to come. We 
will charge ten pins for each child.” 

All right,” said Tim and Peter. That 
will be fun. We will be better clowns to- 


morrow. 


87 



THE LOST PIG 

One day the blacksmith drove to Large 
Village. He drove in his high wagon. It 
was filled with many things. Some of these 
things were iron and rattled. 

But the funniest noise in the wagon was, 
‘‘ Grunt, grunt.’^ This noise was made by 
a little black pig. 

The blacksmith had said to him, Little 
pig, I am going to take you for a drive. 
You shall go with me to Large Village.’’ 

Grunt, grunt, grunt,” said the little 

pig. 

There is a man at Large Village who 
wants you. He will feed you well. You 
will grow fat. Then he will make pork of 
you.” 

Grunt, grunt, grunt, grunt,” said the 
little pig. 

Now T will put you into this bag. I will 
tie the bag around your neck, so. Your head 


88 


will be out of the bag. You can look about 
and enjoy your ride. 

'' But the bag will be around your feet. 
It will keep them still. So you cannot 
jump out of the wagon.” 

'' Grunt, grunt,” said the little pig. 

Now in you go ! Be a good little pig. 
You may talk to me, if you wish. But do 
not try to roll out.” 

The little pig did talk. He said over 
and over, Grunt, grunt, grunt.” 

Perhaps this meant, “ I do not like to 
be tied up in a bag. I do not wish to 
be made into pork. I will roll out, if I 
can.” 

By and by, the blacksmith overtook a 
man who was walking. He gave the man 
a ride. 

Then he forgot about the little pig. He 
did not hear the little pig’s grunts. Instead, 
he talked to the man. 

The little pig did not lie still. He wig- 
gled and wiggled. At last he had wiggled 
to the end of the wagon. 

The very next minute, out he rolled. He 
fell on the road, bump ! But the dust was 
deep and soft and he was not hurt. 


89 



The blacksmith did not hear him fall. 
The iron in the wagon made too much noise 
for that. So he drove on to Large Village. 

The little pig did not like the road. He 
did not like the bag. So he began to kick 
again. 

Before you could think, he had rolled 
himself down the bank by the side of the 
road. There he lay. 


90 


That very same day Peter and Polly 
drove to Large Village. Their father took 
them. 

Polly was driving. She was going very 
slowly. All at once she said, What is 
that ? ” 

Stop and see,” said father. 

Grunt, grunt, grunt,” came from the 
side of the road. 

‘G can hear a pig,” said Peter. ^‘But 
where is he h ” 

I see him,” said father. And down he 
jumped. Well, I never ! ” he said. ‘‘Some- 
body must have lost him out of a wagon. 
I call that a good joke.” 

“ I wonder whose pig he is,” said Polly. 

“ I don’t know,” said father. “ But, if 
you like, you may ask the people we meet 
if they have lost him. Somebody may 
come back to look for him.” 

So Polly asked the very next man they 
met. 

“ Lost a pig ? ” he said. “ No, I haven’t. 
What do you mean ? ” 

When they showed him the little pig he 
laughed. Then he drove on. 

Next they met two ladies. Polly was 


91 



sure that they were driving back to look 
for the little pig. 

So she called, '‘We have your pig.” 

" Our pig? ” said the ladies. “We have 
no pig.” 

Then Mr. Howe told them about the pig. 
They smiled at Polly. 

One of them said, “ We have no little girl 
either. And I wish that we had.” 

“Don’t you wish for a little boy, too?” 
asked Peter. 


92 


should very much like a little girl, 
a little boy, and a little black pig,” said 
the lady. 

Perhaps you may have the pig,” said 
Polly. Perhaps we cannot tind the 
owner.” 

The ladies laughed. Then one said, If 
we cannot have the girl and the boy, we 
will not have the pig.” 

And they drove on. 

Soon Polly saw the blacksmith driving 
along. When he came near, she began to 
call, WeVe found a pig! WeVe found a 
pig ! ” 

At the same time the blacksmith began 
to call, Pve lost my little black pig ! I’ve 
lost my little black pig ! ” 

At that everybody laughed but the pig. 
He only said, Grunt, grunt.” 

The blacksmith took him and took Peter, 
too. Then they all drove to Large Village. 



93 



A CAP OF BURDOCK BURRS 


One day, Peter and Polly went to their 
father’s store for mother. On the way 
home they noticed some burdock plants. 

See,” said Polly, they are just cov- 
ered with burrs. As soon as we carry this 
sugar home, we will come back here and 
pick some.” 

I will pick one now,” said Peter. Oh, 
my ! Oh, my ! How prickly it is ! Why 
shall we come back and pick burrs? I do 
not like to.” 

‘‘ Burrs are prickly,” said Polly. I felt 
of them yesterday. One of the big girls 
had some. She was making baskets out of 
them. It will be fun for us to do that.” 

So the children carried home the sugar. 
They told mother about the burdock burrs. 
Then they went back to pick them. 

Have you ever picked any ? If you have. 


94 


you know that they cling to your fingers. 
And they cling to one another. They do 
not wish to let go. 

Peter made his burrs into a round ball. 
He said, Here . is a good baseball. In a 
minute I shall make it as large as a football.” 

Your baseball is a soft one,” said Polly. 

You cannot bat it very well. If you kick 
your football, it will come to pieces.” 

I shall try it just the same,” said Peter. 

When are you going to make your 
baskets ? ” 

I have picked enough burrs now,” said 
Polly. Let us sit on the grass near the 
sidewalk. Then 1 will show you how to 
make them.” 



95 


Polly stuck ten or twelve burrs together. 
She kept them flat like a mat. Then 
around the edge she stuck a row which 
stood up straight. Then another on that, 
and another until the outside of the basket 
was high enough. 

After that she made a handle from one 
side to the other. She said, That is a 
good basket. Of course I cannot carry it 
by the handle, for then the handle would 
come off.’" 

Let us make some other baskets,” said 
Peter. I can make one that is smaller 
than yours. I wish that the burrs did not 
stick to my fingers so.” 

I will make a basket with square 
corners, now,” said Polly. 

I wish that I could make a hat,” said 
Peter. You do it for me.” 

Polly made a very good hat. Then she 
made another. 

She said, “ Those hats are too small. I 
am going to make quite a large plate. I 
am going to have that for my hat.” 

She made tlie plate. She put it on her 
head. She pressed it down hard. Her 
hair was very thick and curly. The burrs 


96 


caught in her thick hair. The hat stayed 
nicely. 

“ I have found a hat that will not come 
off when the wind blows,” said Polly. I 
like it very much.” And she pressed down 
the burrs again. 

'' Let’s go home now,” said Peter. We 
can take our football and the baskets and 
the hats. You can take off your big hat to 
show to mother.” 

Polly put up her hand. She pulled at the 
burdock burrs. The hat began to come to 
pieces. A few burrs came off her head. 
But the others were caught in her hair. 

She could not get rid of them without 
pulling her hair very badly. The more 
she tried, tlie more her hair became snarled. 

At last she said, 0 Peter ! What shall 
I do '? What shall I do ? My hair is all 
mixed up with those old burrs. I cannot 
get them out.” 

‘‘Let me do it,” said Peter. He pulled 
off a few more pieces. He tried to be 
careful. But he pulled Polly’s hair very 
badly. 

At last she said, “You cannot do that 
any more. It hurts too much. Besides 


97 



you will pull out all my hair. Oil, dear! 
Oil, dear ! ” 

''Come,” said Peter. " Mother will fix it.” 

P. AND P. IN AUTUMN — 7 


98 


The children ran to find mother. 

0 mother ! ” Polly cried. See what I 
have done. I put some burdock burrs on 
my head for a hat. Now I cannot get 
them off. Can you, mother ? ” 

Perhaps I can, dear. I will try. But 
I may hurt you. Can you be a brave little 
girl ? Or should you rather have me cut 
some of your hair % ” 

Have it cut, Polly,” said Peter, Tt is 
fun to have short hair.” 

‘‘No,” said Polly. “I like my hair. It 
curls. I can be brave and let you pull, 
mother.” 

So mother carefully picked the burrs 
from Polly’s curls. It took a long, long 
time. Before she was finished, Polly was 
very tired. So was mother. But Polly 
was not cross once. 

She said, “ I know that you cannot help 
pulling, mother. Atid I think it is good of 
you to help me. If you did not, I should 
have to get Peter’s barber to cut my hair 
short like Peter’s. I am never going to 
wear a burr hat again.” 

Polly’s mother only said, “ I shall be 
glad, if you do not.” 


99 



PLAYING SCHOOL 


Early in September school began. The 
schoolhonse was a small white building. 
In front of it was a large yard. This was a 
good place to play. 

Polly went to school every day except 
Saturdays and Sundays. She liked it very 
much. Peter stayed at home and played 
with Tim and Wag-wag and Collie. He 
liked that better than going to school 

Polly came home from school early. She 
had plenty of time to play. 

One day Polly said, I know something 
to do. Let’s have a school.” 

'' We used to do that,” said Peter. 

'W^es, we did, Peter. But I know how 
to plav it better than I did. T go to school 
now, so I can play it better.” 


100 


I do not like to play school,’^ said Tim. 

Let’s not.” 

^‘We are going to,” said Polly. ‘‘You 
need not, if you do not wish.” 

“Well,” said Tim, “I will, if Collie may 
play, too.” 

“ Of course Collie may,” said Polly. 
“ Dogs make good pupils. W ag-wag must 
play, too. Peter, please go into the house 
and get some of the doll family. Then we 
shall have quite a large school.” 

“ Shall we have it out of doors ? ” asked 
Peter. “You do not have your real one 
out of doors.” 

“ Sometimes we do,” said Polly. “ I like 
that very much. You and I will have ours 
out of doors until it is winter.” 

“ I wish it were winter now,” said Peter. 
“ 1 am tired of autumn.” 

“ Well, I am not,” said Polly. “ I hope 
that it will be autumn for a long, long time.” 

“ It will not,” Tim said. “ My father 
thinks that a hard frost will come any 
night. He has taken all our pumpkins into 
the barn.” 

“ So has my father,” said Polly. “ Oh, I 
know something! We will play school in 


101 



the bam. Then we will use the pumpkins 
for chairs. Come on ! ” 

Polly and Peter ])icked up the doll family, 
and away the three children ran. After 
them ran Collie and Wag- wag. 


102 



POLLY’S PUPILS 

In the bam the children looked for pump- 
kins which had no stems left on them. Some 
of them were so large that they made good 
seats. 

^‘We will put four small seats in the 
front row,” said Polly. Those are for the 
four dolls. 

‘‘ Then we will have four in the next row. 
Those are for you two boys and Wag- wag 
and Collie. 

My chair is out here in front. I shall be 
the teacher. I shall always be the teacher.” 

^‘We do not care,” said Peter. If you 
are the teacher all the time, we shall be 
naughty boys some of the time.” 

'' No, you will not,” said Polly. Now, 
boys, take your seats.” 

If you say, ‘ Take your seats,’ I shall 


103 


not do it,” said Tim. “You must say, 

‘ Take your pumpkins.’ ” 

“ If you say, ‘ Take your pumpkins,’ ” said 
Peter, “ I shall really take mine and go away.” 

“ Oh, dear ! ” said Polly. “ What shali I 
do with two naughty boys? 1 know. You 
get the dogs and make them sit on their 
pumpkins.” 

The two biggest pumpkins had been put 
in the row for the two dogs. Tim showed 
Collie what he was to do. 

Collie is a very smart dog. He knew 
what Tim meant. He was willing to play 
school. So he tried to sit upon the pump- 
kin. He was so big that one of his legs 
kept slipping off. 

When Wag-Avag saw Collie on his seat, 
he jumped up on the next one. He was 
small, so it was easy for him to sit there. 

“Now, Collie,” said the teacher, “how 
many are two and three ? ” 

Just then Collie slipped off his pumpkin. 
Polly played that he meant to stand. 

“ That is right,” said the teacher. “ You 
must always stand, when you answer a 
question. Now, can you tell me? Then 
come down here and I will help you.” 


104 



Collie walked out to the teacher. 

You mind very well/’ said she. ‘‘ I will 
show you about two and three. Speak, 
Collie ! ” 

Collie barked. His master liad taught 
him to do that. 

Speak again ! ” 

Collie barked again. 

That is right, little boy. That is two. 
Now do it three times more. Speak ! 
Speak ! Speak ! ” 

Collie barked three times more. 

V ery good,” said the teacher. ‘‘You have 
barked five times. That is what two and 
three make. Do you imderstand about it ? ” 


105 



Just then she heard a noise. It was Tim 
and Peter. They were rolling their seats 
over the barn floor. 

. Children, children, stop, stop ! ” cried the 
teacher. What are you doing ^ Take 
your seats ! ’’ 

‘‘We have taken them,’’ shouted Peter. 
“We have taken them away. It is recess. 
We are playing it is winter. We are rolling 
snowballs. See how big they are.” 

“ I will have a bigger one,” said Polly. 
And she ran to get Collie’s seat. . 

Out of tlie barn and down the driveway 
rolled the pumpkins. And that was the end 
of playing school for that day. 


106 



PETER’S FUNNY BED 

One morning Peter said to Polly, I have 
seen plenty of red leaves. I am glad about 
it. I wish to have winter soon.” 

I am not glad about it, Peter. I think 
that the red leaves are pretty. But by and 
by they will all fall from the trees. After 
that, cold weather will come.” 

^‘Yes, it will,” said Peter. The snow 
and the ice will be here. That is wliat I 
like. I think that summer has been long 
enough.” 

I wish that it would last all the year,” 
said Polly. We stay out of doors more in 
the summer. It is Saturday, to-day. I am 
going to play up at Tim’s. Will you 
come P’ 

‘Wes,” said Peter, “I will. I am glad 
that it is Saturday. You can play with me 
all day.” 


107 


Polly and Peter and Tim went into the 
pasture back of Tim’s house. There had 
been a frost in the night. But it had not 
hurt the grass and the flowers much. 

‘‘It is time for nuts,” said Tim. “We 
will get butternuts over in your field, Peter. 
But we can get beechnuts up here in my 
woods. Shall we to-day ? ” 

“ No,” said Polly. “ Let’s not to-day. 
Let’s go to the sand bank and play in the 
sand. We can hunt for beechnuts some 
other time.” 

The sand bank was high. Near the top 
there were many, many round holes. The 
children knew what made them. 

“ See the swallows’ holes,” said Polly. “ I 
believe that there are more than ever.” 

“ I should like to see inside one,” said 
Tim. “ It must be dark.” 

“We must let those holes alone,” said 
Polly. “ I think that the swallows have all 
gone south, but maybe they have not. We 
must not touch their homes.” 

“We cannot reach them anyway,” said 
Tim. “ I tried it the other day. I was not 
going to hurt the holes. I just wished to 
look into them.” 


108 


Let’s build forts,” said Peter. I will 
build one here.” 

At the bottom of the sand bank the soft 
sand was deep. It was a fine place to play. 

I will get some sticks for soldiers,” said 
Polly. Then they will capture your fort.” 

‘‘ They will not,” said Peter. I shall 
make my fort too strong. Besides I shall 
have some big guns on the top.” 

I shall not play war,” said Tim. I 
shall build a city. See, here are my streets. 
Here are my houses. These sticks are my 
people. This great big house is a church.” 

It was fun playing in the sand. It got 
into the children’s shoes. And Tim put 
some sand down Peter’s neck. The sun 
was very bright and hot. It did not seem 
like autumn. 

At last Peter said, I have built enough 
things. What else shall we play ? ” 

I know,” said Polly. Let us dig holes 
and bury ourselves.” 

Soon three holes were dug. But the 
children could not cover themselves up 
very well. So Polly said, ‘AVe will take 
turns.” 

‘‘ Bury me first, then,” said Peter. I 


109 



have worked bard. I am tired. The hole 
will he a nice soft bed.” 

You are always tired or hungry,” said 
Polly. I think that you are just lazy. 
But Tim and I 'will bury you. We will let 
you be first this time.” 


110 


So Polly and Tim covered Peter all over 
except his face. Then Polly put Peter’s 
hat over his face so that the sun would not 
shine in his eyes. 

She said, You may stay buried until we 
call you. Then it will be our turn.” 

She and Tim played in the sand for a few 
minutes. Then they went farther up the 
field. In this way they could get on top of 
the high sand bank. 

They lay down and looked over the edge. 
They could see Peter. He was perfectly 
still. 

Polly called to him. Peter, Peter,” she 
said. Do you wish to come up here with 
us?” 

Peter did not answer. He did not 
move. 

He has gone to sleep,” said Polly. 
'' How funny ! I know something. Let’s 
leave him there. He will get enough of 
being buried. He will not wish to be first, 
the next time.” 

After quite a long while, Peter woke. He 
had forgotten where he was. He tried to 
turn over. But he could not. 

What is the matter with me ? ” he 


Ill 


thought to himself. '' Where am 1 1 What 
is on my face ? I feel very queer.” 


At last he remembered. Then he called, 
‘‘ Polly ! Polly ! Come and dig me out ! I 
have been buried long 



Polly did not answer. 

He called again and again. 

Then he said to himself, Well, I do be- 
lieve that she has gone off and left me here. 
I must dig myself out.” 

At last he stood up. He was covered 
with sand. But that would brush off. He 
was not very much pleased with Polly and 
Tim. 

As he started home he said, ‘^Sometimes, 
when I go to sleep, nice things happen. 
Once I caught a fish. And sometimes 
things happen that are not nice. It was not 
nice to be left all alone.” 


112 



THE MAPLE-LEAF CHAIN 


One day Polly brought something pretty 
home from school. She showed it to Peter. 

She said, See tins wreath of red leaves. 
I made it. One of the big girls taught me 
how. I will teach you.” 

All right,” said Peter. I have been 
waiting for you to come home. I thought 
that you would play with me.” 

I will,” said Polly. Let us both hunt 
for red leaves. They have begun to fall 
from the trees. 

There are none under these trees in our 
yard. These are elms. See, their leaves 
are all yellow.” 

I know where to get red leaves,” said 
Peter. Come down by the fence. The 


113 


trees down there have red leaves. They 
have yellow ones, too.’’ 

‘‘Yes, they have, Peter. Those are the 
trees that we tap in the spring. They are 
sugar maples.” 

“ See,” said Peter, “ here are many red 
maple leaves on the ground. And here are 
many yellow maple leaves, too. And here 
are a few green leaves. 

“ I shall use some of the yellow ones in 
my wreath. They will be pretty.” 

Polly said, “ I will make one wreath all 
yellow. This is the way to do it. W atch ! 



1^. AND P. IN AUTUMN 8 


114 


Break the stem off every leaf. Then lay 
the point of one leaf over the bottom of an- 
other. Lay it over just a little. 

'' Now use one of the stems for a pin. Pin 
through both leaves. That will hold them 
together. Tlien you can pin on another, 



“ 1 see,’’ said Peter. 1 can do it. First 
I shall take a red leaf. Next I shall take a 
yellow leaf. It is a good way.” 

Yes, it is, Peter. See my wreath. It is 
large enough. I shall wear it on my head. 
First I must fasten the ends together. I 
will show you how to do it.” 

Polly took another stem-pin. She pinned 
the first leaf and the last leaf together. 
This made a circle. She put the wreath on 
her head. It fitted very well. 

Now I have a crown,” she said. So, 


115 


of course, I am a queen. Finish your wreath 
and you may be a king.” 

Peter put his on his head. Then lie made 
a larger one. He wore this around his neck. 

What are you doing now, Polly % ” he 
asked. Why are you making such a big 
one % ” 

Polly had made a very long chain of 
maple leaves. 

She said, ‘‘ I am not going to make this 
into a wreath. I am just going to keep on 
making a chain. 

I shall hang it on the fence. By and 
by, it will be so long that it will reach to 
Tim’s house. You help.” 

Peter made short chains. Polly joined 
these to the long one. She hung the long 
one over the pickets of the fence. The red 
and the yellow leaves looked very pretty on 
the white fence. 

I believe I like autumn,” said Polly. 

I like to swing way up into the yellow 
elm leaves. I like to make wreaths. 

It is fun playing in the leaves. Only I 
do wish that they could stay on the trees 
always.” 

Then you could not play in them,” said 


116 


Peter. But most of them are up on the 
trees yet.” 

I know that,” said Polly. '' But they 
keep falling down. See the wind blow them. 
Their stems are all loose. Look at our long 
chain.” 

We can never make one all the way up 
to Tim’s,” said Peter. I am going to stop 
until to-morrow. We can do more then.” 

All right,” said Polly. It is getting 
dark anyway. We could not see much 
longer. I wish that night would not come 
so early. Let’s go in.” 

When morning came, the children ran to 
look at their lovely chain. What do you 
think had happened 

Why, in the night, the red and yellow 
leaves had begun to curl up. They had 
begun to grow brown. The chain was no 
longer very pretty. 



117 



STARTING FOR THE FAIR 


Polly ran into the house from school one 
day. She banged all the doors. 

Next week is fair week ! Next week is 
fair week ! she shouted. 

Peter was in the house. He heard Polly. 

Next week is fair week ! Next week is 
fair week ! ” he shouted, too. 

“ How do you know, Peter ? ” asked Polly. 

Because you said so,’’ answered Peter. 

Besides, the blacksmith said so. His 
horses are going to the fair to get blue rib- 
bons. Do horses like to go to the fair ? If 
we go, shall we get blue ribbons ? ” 

Father laughed. ‘‘You certainly are a 
prize,” he said. “ You ought to get a blue 
ribbon.” 


118 


Then will you take us so that we can ? ” 
asked Peter. 

And Polly said, Oli, will you take us ? 
School closes for two days so that all the 
children can go.” 

Yes,” said father. I mean to take you. 
Mother is going, too. If it does not rain, 
we shall have a good time.” 

Goody, goody ! ” cried both children. 

Shall we drive Mary ? ” asked Polly. 

Tim is going on the train.” 

1 think so,” said father. But we may 
go on the train. That will be just as mother 
says. You must ask her.” 

Are you going on the train, mother ? ” 
asked Peter. I wish to go on the train.” 

If we do, you will have to help carry 
the luncheon,” said mother. 

Oh, shall we take things to eat ? ” 
shouted Peter. Goody, goody ! Then 
let us go in our carriage.” 

'' 1 think that will be easier,” said 
mother. 

The day of the fair was warm and bright. 
Mother and father were up early. So were 
Peter and Polly. 

Mother got the breakfast, and washed the 


119 


dishes, and put up the luncheon. Father 
fed the horse, and milked the cow, and fed 
the hens. 

Polly made the beds. She was in a great 
hurry to get them done. 

She smoothed out all the wrinkles in 
mother’s bed. She smoothed out all the 
wrinkles in father’s bed. She smoothed out 
all the wrinkles in Peter’s bed. 

When she came to her own bed she said, 
I shall not smooth out all my wrinkles. 
It takes too long. I wish to be downstairs 
and know what is going on.” 

You see that mother and father and 
Polly were all busy. And Peter was busy, 
too. He was busy getting into everybody’s 
way. 

He stood just where mother wished to 
walk. Then he went upstairs and stood 
just where Polly wished to walk. But he 
did not mean to do so. 

At last mother said, Peter, why don’t 
you run out and sit in the carriage ? In a 
few minutes father will harness Mary. I am 
almost ready now.” 

I will,” said Peter. 

He got his hat and his coat. Father had 


120 




121 


drawn the two-seated carriage out of the 
barn. Peter climbed into it. 

He waited a long, long time. He thought 
that he had waited all the morning. But it 
was really only half an hour. 

At last Polly came. Then father brought 
out the luncheon basket. He harnessed 
Mary. Mother came out of the side door. 
She was ready, too. 

Mother and Polly sat on the back seat. 
Father and Peter sat hi front. 

Down the hill they went. Past the store 
and through the woods, past Farmer Brown’s 
and on, on, on to Large Village the road ran. 

I never was so happy before in all my 
life,” said Polly. ‘^Just think! We are 
going to the fair, and we are going to have 
a picnic, too. I must jnmp up and down.” 

Jump then,” said mother. But re- 
member the blacksmith’s pig. Do not jump 
out.” 

Through Large Village they went. Then 
the road became crowded. There were many 
carriages. There were more automobiles. 

They had to drive very slowly. But at 
last they came in sight of the Fair 
Grounds. 


122 



A BUNCH OF BALLOONS 

See all the people ! ” cried Polly. I 
did not know that there were so many 
except at a circus.” 

‘‘Father, where did you put Mary?” 
asked Peter. 

“ Over there by the fence. Here is a 
ticket for her. No one can take her with- 
out this ticket. She will wait for us.” 

“Let iis go into that place,” said Polly. 
“ See all the people going in there.” 

“ That is a place in which to eat,” 
father said. “We do not wish to eat yet. 
Besides, we brought our food with us,” 

“ Let us go to see the cattle,” said mother. 

Father took them to a large building. It 
was full of sheep. There were many dif- 
ferent kinds. 


123 


‘^Farmer Brown has some of his sheep 
here/’ said father. 

^‘Are his two pet lambs here'?” asked 
Peter. I mean the ones that came to our 
party on his piazza last summer. I hope 
that they will get a bine ribbon.” 

After they had seen the sheep, they went 
into the building where the cows were kept. 

Some of Tim’s Jersey cows are here,” 
said father. Perhaps we can find them.” 

There were hundreds of cows. The 
children grew tired of looking at so many. 
At last they found Tim’s Jersey cows stand- 
ing side by side. 

Let ns look at the horses now,” said 
father. ''Perhaps we can find the black- 
smith’s.” 

" Perhaps you can find a pony for us,” 
said Peter. " I wish that you would try.” 

"Now,” said father, "you have seen 
enough of the horses. There are the pigs 
left to see. Does anybody wish to look at 
the pigs '? ” 

" Suppose you go alone,” said mother. 
" The children and I will stay outside this 
building and wait for you. We are a little 
tired.” 


124 


Look for the little black pig!” Polly 
shouted. 

Mother and Polly and Peter found a 
bench on which to sit. 

Then mother said, Now let us look for 
interesting things. You first, Polly. 
What do you see that is interesting ? ” 

All the automobiles standing over there. 
And all the wagons. And all the people.” 

‘Wes,” said mother. “There are hun- 
dreds of automobiles and wagons. Peter, 
what do you see ? ” 

“ All the people going into that place to 
eat. And all the people coming out.” 

“ Oh, oh ! ” cried Polly. “ Look, look ! 
See the men leading the ponies, Peter ! ” 

“0 Polly!” cried Peter. “See the men 
leading the dogs ! ” 

“ Those dogs are going to race,” said 
mother. 

“ Where, where ? Let us go,” said Polly. 

“We will see them this afternoon, Polly,” 
said mother. “They do not race until 
then.” 

“Oh, I wish that we had brought Wag- 
wag,” said Polly. “ I am sure that he could 
beat.” 


125 



Perhaps he could not,” said mother. 
Those dogs are trained to race. Wag-wag 
is not.” 

O mother, mother ! ” cried Peter. 


126 


There is a boy with some balloons ! See 
them ! See them ! Red ones and white 
ones and blue ones. May we have some ’’ 

‘‘ Yes, you may. Here is a dime for you, 
Peter. Here is a dime for you, Polly. 
Run and buy.” 

Stop, stop ! ” called Peter to the boy. 
‘H will buy a red balloon.” 

r will buy a blue one,” said Polly. 

Here is the money.” 

The boy untied a blue and a red balloon. 
He gave them to Polly and to Peter. 

A crowd of people had gathered around 
him. Somebody pushed against him. He 
dropped Polly’s money. 

He stooped to pick it up. His bunch of 
balloons slipped from his hand. He jumped 
up and caught at them. But he only 
pushed them farther away. 

Other people tried to get them. But the 
crowd was thick. People bumped against 
one another. Nobody caught the balloons. 
Up into tlie air they sailed. 

The boy looked ready to cry. But he 
did not. He said, Oh, dear ! Oh, dear ! 
I shall be punished for losing my balloons. 
1 wish 1 could get them.” 


127 


It is too bad/^ said one man. Per- 
haps we can help you. Here! Give me 
your cap. 

Now, ladies and gentlemen,’’ he said, 
let us put into this boy’s cap the money 
for his balloons. Then he will not be pun- 
ished for losing them. 

It is too nice a day for anybody to be 
punished. Now walk right up and help.” 
And he dropped in a large piece of silver 
money. 

Mrs. Howe gave Peter and Polly each 
five cents. They put the money into the 
cap. The man who passed the cap smiled 
at Polly. 

Many, many people put money into the 
cap. The boy had enough to pay for his 
balloons. 

Then the crowd went away. Polly 
and Peter watched the bunch of balloons up 
in the air. 

At last Polly said to her mother, That 
was a homely man who held the cap. But 
he looked handsome to me. I think that 
he is kind. 

You see T remember, ‘ Handsome is that 
handsome does.’ ” 


128 



THE BROKEN SHOW CASE 


Before long, father found mother and 
Polly and Peter. He saw the children’s 
balloons. He heard the story of the bunch 
that went up in the air. 

Then he said, Now, before we have our 
luncheon, I will take you to the merry-go- 
round. Have you heard the music"? Do 
you wish a ride ? ” 

Oh, yes, yes ! ” cried Polly and Peter 
dancing up and down. 

Do you know what a merry-go-round is ? 
If you do not, look at the picture. It will 
show you. 

Peter and Polly had ridden on one just 
twice before. Then they had liked it very 
much. 

Peter chose a black horse and Polly chose 
a gray one. They were side by side. leather 


129 



sat oil one behind tliese two. Many other 
people sat on other liorses. 

At last the music started. The horses 
started, too. All moved around in a circle. 
It was quite a large circle, but not so large 
as a circus ring. 

1>. AND P. IN AUTUMN — 9 



130 


Faster and faster the horses went. Polly 
and Peter held on with both hands. Around 
and around the circle they flew. Oh, what 
fun it was ! 

Then the music stopped. The horses 
slowed down. The people climbed off the 
horses, and it was over. 

I should like to ride again,” said Peter. 

Does it cost much? ” 

Five cents apiece,” said father. Per- 
haps we can have one more ride after 
luncheon. Come now, it is time to eat.” 

The luncheon was taken to a shady 
place and opened. How good everything 
looked ! How good everything tasted ! 

Father said, While we eat, I will tell you 
a story. Then we shall not hurry. This is 
a true story. It happened to me, when I 
was a little boy. 

One day my father took me to the fair. 
He showed me the same things that 1 have 
shown you. He let me ride on the horses. 
He gave me a drink of lemonade.” 

Oh,” said Peter, '' I wish that you would 
get us some lemonade.” 

The kind that Polly sells is better than 
any we can buy at the fair,” said father. 


131 


Let us wait until we get home. Here is 
plenty of cold water.” 

Please go on, father,” said Polly. 
‘‘What else did you do at the fair? Were 
there horse races ? ” 

“Yes,” said father. “After luncheon we 
shall see horse races just like them. We 
will sit in the grand stand. Then we can see 
very well. Yes, when my father took me to 
the fair, I saw horse races. 

“ I was about as old as Peter, then. In 
the afternoon I began to be very tired. My 
father said that he would take me home. 
But first he wished to go into one more 
place. 

“ This was a very large building. In it 
were all kinds of things. These had been 
made by different people. There were bed- 
spreads and quilts hanging up. There were 
all kinds of fancy work. 

“ The only things which pleased me were 
the things to eat. There were many coun- 
ters and show cases filled with bread, 
cookies, cake, pies, and candy. 

“ My father lifted me up in his arms so 
that I could look into one show case. He 
began to talk with the woman who stood be- 


132 


hind the case. He did not see what 1 was 
doing. 

I told yon that 1 was very tired. I just 
leaned out of my father’s arms and rested 
my arms on the glass at the top of the 
case. 

Crack, crack, crack went that glass. I 
had leaned so hard that I had broken it. 

The woman who owned it was very 
angry. She was quite cross to me. But 
my father told her that he would pay for it 
at once. As soon as he did, she cut a cake 
and gave me a large piece. 

When we got home, I heard my father 
telling your Grandmother Howe about it. 
He told her that he thought he had paid for 
the cake the woman gave us, because she had 
charged him so much for the glass.” 

That is a good story, father,” said Polly. 

I like stories about when you were a little 
boy. I am sorry that you broke the case. 
I hope you were not frightened.” 

‘‘ I was a little, Polly,” said father. 
'' Now, if you have finished your luncheon, 
we will have another ride on the merry-go- 
round. Then we must get good seats in the 
grand stand for the races.” 


188 



Let us go after those beechnuts to-day,” 
said Tim to Peter. My mother says that 
I may.” 

The squirrels take all the nuts,” said 
Peter. '' We cannot find any.” 

Yes, we can/’ said Tim. We can get 
the beechnuts before the squirrels do. Only 
we must hurry. See if you may go.” 

Mother said, “ Yes.” Then the boys went 
through the field back of Tim’s house. 
They passed the sand bank. Soon they 
came to the edge of the woods. 

The woods were not green any longer. 
Tlie trees were bright with colors. There 
were many red and yellow sugar maples. 
Tim’s father always tapped these in the 
spring. 

A few of the trees in the woods were ever- 
greens. Their needles were a dark green. 


184 


And there were many beech trees. Their 
leaves had turned brown and yellow. 

See, Peter,” said Tim. Some of the 
leaves have come down. I am glad. We 
can play in them.” 

‘‘No,” said Peter. “We must hunt for 
beechnuts. Let us find a beech tree. Then 
we will look on the ground for nuts.” 

“ All right,” said Tim. And he began to 
hunt for beechnuts under a maple tree. 

He looked on top of the leaves. He 
scraped up the leaves. But not one single 
nut did he find. 

' “ There are no nuts,” he said. “ This is 

not a beechnut year. I shall not hunt any 
more.” 

Just then Peter shouted, “ Oh, come 
here, come here ! I have found some ! 
See, see ! The squirrels have not taken 
them all.” 

He held out his hand. In it were some 
small, brown nuts. They were three-cor- 
nered nuts. Two were in a prickly burr. 

“ There are more on the ground,” he said. 
“And, 0 Tim! Look up into the tree! I 
can see burrs all over it. I wish that we 
could climb up and knock them off.” 


135 


I wish so, too,’’ said Tim. I am going 
back to look np into my tree. Maybe they 
have not come down from my tree.” 

When Peter saw Tim looking up into a 
maple, he laughed. 

O Tim ! ” he said. Of course you can- 
not find any beechnuts there. Beechnuts 
do not grow on maples. Find a beech.” 

Soon Tim found a tree like Peter’s. The 
leaves were not the shape of maple leaves. 
The bark was smoother than maple bark. 
It had gray spots on it. 

Tim began to find nuts, too. He put them 
into his pocket. That is where Peter put his. 

It was not easy work to find such little 
nuts. Sometimes they were lying on the 
leaves. Sometimes the leaves hid them. 

‘Ht is easier to pick up butternuts,” said 
Peter. I could fill my pockets with them 
very quickly. I shall never get my pockets 
filled with beechnuts. I have enough any- 
way. Let’s go home.” 

^Hn a minute,” said Tim. Let’s sit here a 
little while. See the leaves come down. I 
can hear them, too. Can you ? ” 

Yes,” said Peter. And I shall be glad 
when they are all down. I am wishing for 


186 



winter all tlie time. My mother says that it 
will come soon.” 

The woods were very still. The boys 
heard no birds sino-ino\ Some of them had 
gone south. Those that were left did not 
sing. 




137 


There was no noise but the sound of the 
leaves as they fell down from the trees. 

Peter got up and scufted in the fallen 
leaves. 

I like the smell of them,” he said. 

Now I am going home. Come on.” 

So home through the field they went. 
Collie met them. He jumped around them 
and barked. Perhaps he said, ^‘Why didn’t 
you take me with you h ” 

Tim put his hand into his pocket to show 
Collie his beechnuts. But he could not find 
them. 

He turned his pocket inside out. Still he 
found no nuts. Instead, he found a large 
hole. 

He said to Peter, ''The squirrels take 
most of the nuts, and the hole takes the rest. 
I think that is a good joke. Let us go for 
more, to-morrow.” 



138 



THE DOLL FAMILY 

See what I have, Peter,” said Polly. 
What are they, Polly ^ ” 

They are acorns. They came from oak 
trees. Here are some oak leaves.” 

I never saw any acorns before. They 
look like nuts. What are they good for ? ” 
To play with, Peter. I will show you 
how, soon. And they are good for squirrels.” 
Squirrels get all the nuts,” said Peter. 
Tim and I cannot find any more beech- 
nuts. We know where they are, too. 
Those old squirrels have them.” 

AVhat if they have ? ” asked Polly. 
''You cannot have everything that there is 
to eat.” 

" Are acorns good to eat, Polly 
" These are not very good,” said Polly. 
" But the squirrels like them. One of the 


139 


big boys gave me these. He got them up 
oil the liill. He says many oak trees grow 
there. He gave me these oak leaves, too. 
Aren’t they pretty ? ” 

''Yes,” said Peter. "They are not like 
elm leaves. They are not like maple leaves. 
And they are not like beech leaves.” 

" See what a dark red they are, Peter. I 
wish that we had some oak trees here.” 

" So do I,” said Peter. " Let’s plant an 
acorn. Maybe it will grow. How do you 
play with acorns ? ” 

" I shall have a dolls’ party,” said Polly. 
"We can have it on the front steps. Let 
us bring out the family.” 

Polly and Peter had a large family. It 
was made up of Mr. and Mrs. Rag Doll and 
eight children. Mother and grandmother 
had given the dolls to them. 

Polly had other beautiful dolls. One was 
two feet tall. But she liked the family 
best. She could play harder with them. 

Mrs. Rag Doll sat on one step with four 
children. Mr. Rag Doll sat on the step 
above with four children. 

Polly always played Mrs. Rag Doll. 
Peter always played Mr. Rag Doll. 


140 


Mrs. Rag Doll. Can’t you keep your 
children still? They are all jumping 
around.” 

Mr. Rag Doll. No, I cannot. Why 
don’t you keep yours still ? ” 

Mrs. Rag Doll. They would be still, if 
your children would stop kicking them.” 

Mr. Rag Doll. It is time for them to 
have their tea, anyway. Where are those 
new cups ? ” 

Polly put an acorn in its cup in the lap 
of each doll. She set cups without the 
acorns on the step beside each doll. 

Then Mrs. Rag Doll said, Now they 
each have a cup of tea. They each have a 
plate of cake, too. Perhaps they will be- 
have.” 

The children did not behave. Just as 
soon as they had finished eating, they began 
to push and pinch one another. 

The boys threw their cups and saucers on 
the grass. Then the girls threw their plates 
on the grass. Their mother and their father 
were ashamed of them. 

Mrs. Rag Doll. What shall we do with 
these naughty children % They have not 
been so bad for a long time.” 


141 



Mb. Rag Doll. They liave not been to 
a party for a long time. They have forgot- 
ten how to behave. 1 think they have 
broken all the dishes.’’ 


142 


Mrs. Rag Doll. Oh, dear ! How dread- 
ful ! I shall take them straight home. I 
shall put them to bed.’’ 

Mr. Rag Doll. '' I will help you. They 
ought to be punished. Maybe I shall spank 
them.” 

‘‘No, you will not, Peter. Mother does 
not spank us,” said Polly. 

“ She does not send us to bed in the 
afternoon, either, Polly,” said Peter. 

“ That is so,” said Polly. “ Then I shall 
not do it.” 

Mr. Rag Doll. “ Perhaps they are not 
feeling well. Sometimes I am cross when 
I do not feel well.” 

Mrs. Rag Doll. “ Perhaps that is so. I 
will hold my four in my arms and comfort 
them. Then they will feef better.” 

Mr. Rag Doll. “ I will hold my four in 
my arms and comfort them. Then they 
will get well.” 

So Polly and Peter gathered their large 
family up in their arms. They carried 
them into the house and upstairs to the 
playroom. 

There they sat down to comfort their 
naughty dolls. 


143 


COMFORT 

My dolls are sick and tired sometimes, 
And I can’t stand tlieir noise ; 

I put them quickly into bed, 

And hide away their toys ; 

I shut the door and leave them 
In the playroom all alone. 

And scamper quickly down the stairs, 
For fear I’ll hear them moan. 

Last night I had the toothache hard ; 
My mother was so kind ; 

She held me closely in her arms. 

And said to never mind. 

She gently kissed the achy spot. 

And soothed me with a song ; 

And, if you will believe my word. 

The pain was quickly gone. 

I like to have my mother care 
When I am sick and blue ; 

I shouldn’t wonder if my dolls 
Would like me gentle, too. 

I think next time that one is sick. 

I’ll sit and smooth her hair. 

I’ll hold her hand and pat her cheek. 
And let her know I care. 

— Caroline M. Griswold. 


144 




TIM’S FOOTBALL 

Peter,” called Tim, “ come out here.” 
Tim was in Peter’s front yard. He was 
kicking something about. 

What are you doing 1 ” asked Peter. 

I am playing football. Don’t you know 
that all the big boys play football in the 
autumn ? My mother made me this foot- 
ball. It is a good one. See ! ” 

Tim picked up his ball. He handed it to 
Peter. It was just a bag made of cloth. 
It was stuffed with rags. 

A^es, it is a good one,” said Peter. One 


145 


day I made a football out of burdock burrs. 
But it came to pieces, when I kicked it. 
Yours will not do tliat.’^ 

No,” said Tim, it will not. My mother 
said, that I may kick it to pieces, if I can. 
Then my father will bring me a real one 
from Large Village.” 

Let me take it a minute, Tim. Let me 
show it to my mother. She will make one 
for me.” 

Mrs. Howe made Peter a football. It was 
just like Tim’s. It did not take her very 
long to do it. She made a strong bag on 
the sewing machine. She stuffed it with 
rags. Then she sewed up the end. 

There,” she said, now you both have 
footballs. I think that they are very good 
ones. You may go to Tim’s and play with 
them. Tim has some leaves up at his house 
for you to jump in.” 

Tim and Peter kicked their footballs all 
the way up the hill. Sometimes the balls 
did not go straight. Sometimes, when they 
tried, the boys did not kick them at all. 

Once Peter kicked very hard. He did 
not touch his ball. He kicked so hard that 
he fell down. 

P. AND P. IN AUTUMN 10 


146 


See all your leaves, Tim,’^ said Peter. 
“ Your yard is full of them. Let’s rake them 
up. Maybe we can have a bonfire.” 

^‘We can rake them,” said Tim. ^‘But 
we cannot burn them. 1 heard my father 
say that he should keep our leaves.” 

What for ? ” asked Peter. 

He is going to put them in a big pile,” 
said Tim. He is going to cover them 
over. 

After he has left them in a pile for a 
long, long time, they will rot. Then they 
will be good for the garden.” 

1 should rather have a bonfire,” said 
Peter. 

So should I,” said Tim. But my father 
would not. He gets things to sell from his 
garden. So he has to make them grow 
fast.” 

My father does not,” said Peter. He 
keeps a store. He has the post office, too. 
That is in his store. I have seen him put 
the letters into boxes.” 

So have I,” said Tim. '' And I have 
had a letter, too. Let’s rake up a pile of 
leaves now. We can jump in them.” 

AVhere is my football ? ” asked Peter. 


14 ’ 


I do not know, Peter. It must be 
somewhere in the leaves. We can find it 
when we rake them up. Oh, see mine ! ” 
There is a hole in it,” said l^eter. The 
insides are sticking out. Now von can liave 
a real one, Tim. Your mother said so. 
Let us take it in to show her.” 

AVhen the boys came out of the house, 
Tim said, Polly and I buried you in the 
sand the other day. Now you bury me in 
the leaves.” 

He lay down and Peter piled leaves all 
over him. He even covered up. his face. 
The leaves Avere very light. Tim liked 
the smell of them. 

Soon he jumped up. He did not need 
any one to dig him out. Then he covered 
Peter all over. 

Do not go to sleep,” he said. If you 
do, we shall never get the leaves raked up. 
Now you have been buried long enough. 
Come out ! ” 

Next they tried to bury Collie and Wag- 
wag. But the dogs would not lie still. 
They thought that it was some kind of 
game. They wished to play, too. 

At last the boys found Peter’s football. 


148 



I must take this home, before I lose it 
again,” said Peter. Good-by, Tim. I have 
had a good time. Come and play with me 
this afternoon.” 


149 



THE GEOGRAPHY LESSON 

Polly liked to go to school. She had 
wished to go for a long time. She thought 
that she should like it. And, sure enough, 
she did. 

Father had taught Polly to read. So 
she did not begin with the very easiest 
book. She began with the second reader. 

Tt was just the same with the number 
work. She knew all about eight and eight, 
and nine and nine. 

She could tell Miss Barnes, her teacher, 
the answer to six times four, and seven 
times three. 


150 


Besides, she could tell how much things 
cost at her father’s store. And she knew 
how much sugar you could buy for thirty 
cents, if it cost ten cents a pound. 

One day. Miss Barnes said, Now we will 
have our geography lesson. AVe will talk 
about our village. You may tell all the 
things that you have seen when I have 
taken you walking. Who will talk first h ” 

I will,” said Polly. 1 know things 
about our village. It is called East Village. 
It is in a valley. The hills are high all 
around it. They make good sliding places. 

“ There is one store and it is my father’s. 
The post office is in it. There is one 
church. It is white. I go to church. 

There is a railroad station. Peter and 
I have to watch for trains when we cross 
the tracks.” 

Where does the railroad go 1: ” asked 
Miss Barnes. 

It goes to Large Village,” said Polly. 
‘'And when you get there, you can travel 
to many other places. I am not sure where 
it goes the other way.” 

“ I know,” said a big boy. “ It goes 
through the White Mountains. If you ride 


151 


far enough, you will reach the ocean. 
Once I did.” 

Good,” said Miss Barnes. Can you 
tell more, Polly ^ ” 

Oh, yes,” answered Polly. I know 
about the blacksmitli’s shop. I go there. 
The blacksmith is my friend. Next to his 
shop is the creamery. Some of the butter 
they make goes far away. I have seen 
boxes of it at the station.” 

They send it to Boston,” said another 

girl. 

There is a sawmill,” said Polly. They 
make butter boxes there. Besides, they saw 
up big logs. I have seen them. 

I have been inside the grain shop. 
That is where Tim's father buys all the 
grain for his Jersey cows. We get ours 
there, too. But we do not buy so much.” 

Have we a river? ” asked Miss Barnes. 

‘‘ Yes, it is the Moose River,” said Polly. 

Last winter I saw men cutting ice on it. 
I saw them putting the cakes into the big 
ice house. The boys fish in the river in 
the summer. So does Blacky. 

It turns the wheels of the sawmill. I 
have seen three brooks that run into it. 


152 


One goes under the road just a little way 
from here. Lots of other brooks must help 
to make it, too.” 

'' Where do the brooks come from ? ” 
asked Miss Barnes. Perhaps you do not 
know that, Polly.” 

Oh, yes, I know,” said Polly. Peter 
and I went to the boiling spring the other 
day. A brook comes from that. It is the 
one that goes under the road.” 

‘‘ Can you tell us anything about our 
trees ? ” asked Miss Barnes. 

‘^We have elm trees in our yard,” said 
Polly. Our swing is in one of them. 
We can swing way up in the branches. 
The leaves are all gone now. 

‘‘We have maple trees in front of our 
house. They go all the way up to Tim’s. 
Peter and I made wreaths of their leaves. 
They were red and yellow. 

“ I know something more, too. Next 
spring my father will tap those trees. We 
can get maple sugar from their sap. 

“ Peter and 1 know where to find butter- 
nut trees. The squirrels take most of the 
butternuts. 

“We know where to hud beech trees, 


153 


too. Once Tim hunted for beechnuts under 
a maple. 

One of the big boys gave me some 
acorns and some oak leaves. I do not know 
where the oak trees are.’^ 

That is a good geography lesson, 
Polly,’’ said Miss Barnes. Your father 
must have shown you a great many things. 
I did not show you all that yon told us 
about. Now I have thought of something. 

am going to give a box to each child 
in my room. We will call them ^Keep- 
sake Boxes.’ 

You may put into these boxes any- 
thing about this geography lesson that 
you can find. I will look at your boxes 
next week. Do you think that will be 
fun ? ” 

. Oh, yes. Miss Barnes ! ” shouted all the 
children. 

And Polly said, '' I can think of lots of 
things for my Keepsake Box this very 
minute. I can think of butternuts, and 
beechnuts, and corn from the grain shop, 
and a stamp from the post office. Oh, I 
am in a hurry to go home so that I can 
begin.” 


154 



PETER’S FIFTH BIRTHDAY 

‘^Mother, when is my birthday?” asked 
Peter. I wish I could be five years old 
soon.” 

^‘You will be five years old soon, Peter. 
Your birthday is the very last day of this 
month. It comes on Halloween. Do you 
know about that ? ” 

Y^es, mother, I know. The big boys 
and the big girls go out with Jack-o’-lanterns 
and scare people.” 

Sometimes they do,” said mother. 
am going to let you have a birthday party 
this year. Are you glad ? ” 

‘‘ Oh, goody, goody, mother ! May Tim 
come ? ” 

Yes, Peter, and you may ask three other 
boys to your party. Which shall yt)u 
choose ? ” 


155 


‘‘ I sliall choose Ned and Jack and 
Will. W hen may I ask tliem ? ” 

Any time you wish, Peter. Ask them 
to come to your party on the last day of 
October. I will speak to their mothers 
about it.” 

Peter awoke early on the morninj;^ of his 
birthday. He called to Polly. Mother 
lieard him. 

She said, Turn on the light, Peter. 
You may begin to dress, if you wish. 
There are some presents for you down- 
stairs.” 

‘‘ Did Santa Claus leave them ? ” asked 
Peter. I must hurry and look. May I go 
down before I dress ” 

If you wish,” said mother. 

When he ran downstairs, he found a sled, 
a pair of mittens, a book, and a new fur 
cap. He liked these very much. 

All that day Peter was quite busy. First 
he had to helj) father. Father was working 
in the barn. He was making Jack-o’-lan- 
terns. 

He made big ones and middle-sized 
ones and little ones. All had funny faces. 
All were smiling at sometliing. Peter 


156 


helped to scrape out the insides of the 
pumpkins. 

He said, I never before saw so many 
Jack-o’-lanterns. I am glad that you planted 
lots of pumpkin seeds. What shall we do 
with so many 1 ” 

^‘Mother will show you by and by,” 
said father. 

When the lanterns were done, Peter 
helped mother. They put the lanterns in 
the dining room. Some were on a table. 
Some were on a shelf. Some were on the 
sideboard. The room was full of smiling 
lanterns. 

Next Peter helped mother wash and 
polish five apples. These were for an apple 
game. They hung by strings from the top 
of the room. They hung down into the 
middle of the room. 

The boys would try to take a bite of 
these apples without touching them with 
their hands. This would be fun. 

At last it was time for the party to begin. 
Tim came first. He wished to start play- 
ing at once. But just then the three other 
boys came*. Then the fun began. 

Tim tried to take a bite out of one swing- 


157 



iiig ap])le. But lie ^ot only some hard 
knocks on his nose. The apple was so 
slippery that he could not get a piece with- 
out using his hands. 



158 


‘'I do not wish a*bi^e anyway,” said Tim. 
‘‘You play that g;fime, Ned. I will do 
something else.” 

Here is niy ^cfaiii of cars,” said Peter. 

Let us plan^'^yith that.” 

'' I s^^all be the engineer,” said Tim. 
But he / ran the engine so fast that the train 
went ^jff the track. 

, ^ ihien they all played tag. This was fun 
until Jack tumbled over a chair. He 
bumped his nose, but he did not care much. 

Mrs. Howe * said, ^^You must play a 
quieter game now. Try puss in the corner. 
There are four corners in this room and 
there are live boys.” 

Peter, you must be the first one with- 
out a corner.” 

What fun it was changing corners! At 
last Tim Avas in the middle. He could not 
get a corner. He grew tired of trying. 

He said, May Ave play leapfrog ? I ^yi\l 
be the first frog.” 

All the boys but Peter could jump quite 
Avell. Peter got stuck. He had to be the 
next frog. 

Then Ned tumbled over his back. So 
Ned had to be the frog. 


159 


At last Mrs. Howe said, You boys 
must be hungry. You have worked hard. 
Supper is almost ready. There is time for 
one game of hide and seek. 

''You may all hide. I will hunt for 
you. Hurry, while 1 count five hundred.’^ 

Off they ran. After a minute they heard 
her call, 

" One, two, three ; look out for me. 

For I am coming; one, two, three.” 

She uncovered her eyes and turned 
around. She saw Peter behind a chair. 
Then she said, " I spy Peter, and touch the 
goal before him.” 

Behind the door she found Will. So 
she said, " I spy Will, and touch the goal 
before him.” 

Just at that minute somebody under the 
couch sneezed and then somebody laughed. 
Mother found Jack and Ned there. 

She said, "I spy Jack and Ned, and 
touch the goal before them.” 

Only Tim was left. He could not be 
found. Mother hunted everywhere for 
him. At last she called, " I give up, Tim. 
You are safe. Come out now.” 

Tim walked in from the hall. He had 


11)0 







161 


been hiding under Mr. Howe’s long coat. 
It hung from a hook nearly to the floor. 

I beat, didn’t I ? ” asked Tim. 

Yes, indeed,” said Mrs. Howe. Now 
come to the dining room. I hear grand- 
mother. She and Polly have just come in. 
We were waiting supper for Polly.” 

She opened the door and the children 
looked in. 

‘‘ Oh, oh, oh ! ” they cried. Then they 
began to laugh. You see, every Jack-o’- 
lantern was lighted. Every one was grin- 
ning at them. 

And besides, there, on the table, was 
Peter’s birthday cake. That looked very 
good. 

What fun those children had at supper ! 
And the Jack-o’-lanterns must have had 
fun, too. Anyway, they smiled a great 
deal. 

When the boys went home, each carried 
a large piece of Peter’s cake and a box 
of candy with him. 

The Jack-o’-lanterns stayed all night. 
They had never before been to a party. 
Perhaps they talked about it, when every- 
one had gone to bed. 


P. AND P. IN AUTUMN — 11 


162 



THE FIRST SNOWFLAKES 

Mother, may I go to school to meet 
Polly ? ” asked Peter. Tim has gone 
away. I have played with Wag- wag all 
the afternoon.” 

<< Why, yes,” said mother. 

Then may Polly and I take a walk ? 
We will not go far.” 

‘‘Yes,” said mother again. “Be home 
before dark, please. It grows dark very 
early now. Next month will come the 
shortest days of the whole year.” 


163 


Peter went over to the sclioolliouse. The 
children were just coming out. 

One of the big boys said to him, Hello, 
Peter. Did you think that you would come 
to school again ? Have you grown big 
enough now ’’ 

Peter only said, I am waiting for Polly 
and there she is.” 

Polly, Polly,” he called, come with 
me. Mother said that we might take a 
walk. I know where to go.” 

Where ? ” asked Polly. 

To the place where the brook runs 
under the road. Let us go under the road 
to-day. Will you ? ” 

All right, I will,” said Polly. I always 
meant to. But I forgot about it. It will 
be fun. Isn’t it cold ? ” 

Yes,” said Peter. ‘‘ My fingers are 
cold. But I do not care. Only I wish that 
I had on my new mittens.” 

Look at this,” said Polly. Come out 
in the road. See how it is frozen into ruts. 
I am going to walk on the ridges.” 

That isn’t very much to look at,” said 
Peter. ‘‘ It has been that way for a few 
days.” 


164 


Yes, it has,” said Polly. But look in 
the ruts. There is ice. It is thin. Let us 
step on it. Hear it crack.” 

There is a puddle,” said Peter. It has 
ice on it, too. See me step on that.” 

Keep off the middle,” said Polly. 
‘‘You do not know how deep that puddle is. 
If the ice lets you down, you may get your 
feet wet.” 

“ All right,” said Peter. “ There is the 
blacksmith’s shop, Polly. Do you think 
that the blacksmith is inside ” 

“ Perhaps he is, Peter. See ! He has 
closed his big door. That is because it is 
cold weather. 

“ He has it closed in winter. I like it to 
be summer better. Then I can see into the 
shop.” 

“ Here is the brook, Polly. Let us climb 
down the bank and look under the road.” 

“ There is ice on the edges of the brook, 
Peter. I think that the boiling spring is 
colder than ever now. Let’s break off 
pieces of this ice.” 

“ Can we walk through under the road ? ” 
asked Peter. “ I told Tim about it. He 
said that we could not.” 


165 


‘‘I think that we can,” said Polly. 

Come on. We will try. Keep close to 
the wall. Do not step into the water.” 

It is quite dark,” said Peter. '' I am 
glad that it is not far.” 

‘‘Yon must bend down now, Peter. I 
have to bend down. Do not push me. I 
shall slip in, if you do.” 

“ Oh, there is the end,” said Peter. “ I 
can see the field. I do not like this place. 
It is hard walking on the stones. It is cold 
here, too.” 



166 


I am out,” shouted Polly. Come on, 
Peter. 0 Peter, Peter, Peter ! ” 

What, what ? ” called Peter. Have 
you fallen in ? ” 

'' No, no ! ” shouted Polly. '' But look at 
this ! Don't you know what it is ? ” 

A snowflake, a snowflake ! ” cried 
Peter. ‘‘ And here is one on my sleeve, 
too.” 

“ There are more in the air, Peter. See 
them ! See them ! Do you suppose that 
it will be winter right away ? ” 

Of course it will, Polly. It is winter 
when the snow comes. Let us run home 
and get our sleds. You may take my new 
one part of the time.” 

The children were at home before it was 
dark. 

At supper time, when father came, Polly 
said, ‘‘Will you please get our sleds out for 
us to-morrow, father? How much has it 
snowed now ? ” 

“Not much,” said father. “You see, 
that was just a little flurry of snow. We 
shall have many such before there is a good 
storm. You must wait a little longer for 
your sliding.” 


167 



THE TREE WITH A STONE IN IT 


Should you children like to go to walk 
with me ? ’’ asked father. It is a nice Sun- 
day afternoon. I know something interest- 
ing to show you.” 

Oh, yes ! ” shouted Peter and Polly. 

Where shall we go ? Tell us fast ! ” 

Up the road on this side of the river,” 
said father. You do not often walk there. 
Get your coats and your mittens. It is cold.” 

Oh,” said Peter, if we have to wear 
mittens, then winter is here.” 

The snow has not come yet,” said Polly. 

So the very best part of the winter is not 
here. I shall be glad of the snow, myself.” 

See how hard the ground is,” said father 
as they walked down the hill. It is frozen. 
The sun cannot thaw it any longer.” 

There are no leaves left on the maple 


168 


trees,” said Polly. ‘‘ And there are no leaves 
left on the elm trees.” 

Let us look for signs of late fall and 
winter,” said father. ‘‘ What can you see, 
Peter ? ” 

The birds have gone,” said Peter. 

‘Wes,” said father. “Just those are left 
that stay with us all winter. Now Polly.” 

“ I said about the leaves, father.” 

“ Very well. Peter, you tell next.” 

“ The squirrels have taken the nuts,” 
said Peter. “ There are no more on the 
ground.” 

“ I know two boys who took some of 
those nuts,” father said. “ Didn’t you and 
Tim have as many as you wished ? ” 

“ Oh, yes,” said Peter. “ And the squir- 
rels must have had all that they wished, too.” 

“ They need them in the winter,” said 
Polly. “ And we do not. I know more 
signs. The goldenrod is not yellow any 
more. And the other flowers have dried up.” 

“ The corn is cut,” said Peter. “ It is 
standing up in bundles.” 

“ Yes,” father said. “ Mother calls those 
bundles of corn dancing ladies. See, that 
fleld is full of them.” 


169 


“ Some of the ladies are very fat/’ said 
Peter. And they do not dance very fast. 
I can think of something else. The pump- 
kins are all taken from the fields.” 



And I go to school/’ said Polly. 

People have been making bonfires,” 
said Peter. 

People have been cutting boughs,” 
said Polly. They have covered up plants 
with them. They have piled them around 


170 


their houses, too. That is a good sign 
of winter.” 

The road is frozen,” said Peter. And 
it is cold enough to wear mittens.” 

Thanksgiving is coming soon,” said 
Polly. That is the best sign yet. It is 
coming this very month.” 

Goody, goody ! ” cried Peter. I know 
that we are going to eat Thanksgiving 
dinner at grandmothers.” 

I know it, too,” said Polly. ‘‘Father, 
what are you going to show us ? Are we 
nearly there ? ” 

“Very nearly, Polly. Do you see that 
big maple tree ? It has no leaves now. 
But I know that it is a maple by the shape 
and by the bark. Can you tell that, too ? ” 

“ I see it,” said Polly. “ But what is 
there interesting about it ? ” 

“ Come and look. The interesting thing 
is at this side. It is near the bottom of the 
tree. Find it, if you can.” 

“ It looks just like all the other maple 
trees,” said Peter. “Are they all interest- 

iiig?” 

“Yes,” said father. “But not in this 
way. What have you found, Polly 1 ” 


171 


A hole/^ said Polly. I will kneel 
down and see if there is anything in it.” 

^‘You are getting very warm,” said 
father. If you look hard, you will hnd 
the interesting thing.” 

‘'I see it! Oh, I see it, father!” cried 
Polly. ‘‘ There is a flat stone in this hole. 
It is a big one. How could it get in 
there ? ” 

The tree has grown right around it,” 
said father. I do not know just how. 
But that stone has been in this tree ever 
since I can remember. 

The tree was not so large when I was 
a boy. We boys always used to call it 
‘ the tree with a stone in it.’ ” 

Do the other children know about it 
now, father ? I never heard of it before. 
May we show them ? ” 

Of course you may show them,” said 
father. “ They ought to see such an 
interesting thing.” 

'' This is as good as our dwarf kitten,” 
said Polly. “ I wish that we could have it 
in a circus with her.” 

''You can, if you have your circus up 
here,” said father. 


172 



JACK FKOST’S CELEBRATION 


How the wind blows to-night ! ” said 
father after supper. ‘Ht whistles around 
the corners. It nearly whistled off my hat, 
when I came home.’’ 

I should think that you would wear a 
cap,” said mother. 

''Fur caps will be needed soon,” father 
said. " The cold weather is here to stay. 
No more warm weather until next spring. 
Let’s celebrate, this evening.” 

" I know Avhat celebrate means,” said 
Polly. " It’s what we do on the Fourth of 
July and Thanksgiving and Christmas.” 

" Birthdays, too,” said Peter. " I had a 
birthday party.” 


173 


“ That is so,” Polly said. '' But what 
shall we celebrate to-night ? ” 

‘‘ Let us celebrate winter,” father said. 
‘^Let us give Jack Frost a party. Come 
now and begin. 

First we will light the fire in the fire- 
place. Light your end, Polly. Light your 
end, Peter. We will see which end burns 
brighter. 

Mother will fix the chairs while I am 
down in the cellar. You two look out for 
sparks. That kindling wood is snapping.” 

In a few minutes father was back. Can 
you guess what he brought ? 

A pan full of apples. They came from a 
barrel in the cellar. They had grown out 
in the orchard. 

Besides, he had a bag with ears of corn in 
it. And he had another pan, and a corn 
popper. 

'' Oh, oh, oh ! ” cried Peter and Polly. 

How could you carry so many things ? ” 

Father put down the pan of apples. We 
will each roast one,” he said. '' Pick yours 
out, children. Now we will put our apples 
on the bricks near the fire. 

‘H^eter, you may watch them. After a 


174 



while, you must turn them around. Do you 
know why ? ” 

What shall I do, father ? asked Polly. 
^Wou may shell some corn into the pop- 



175 


per. We caimot pop it yet. We must wait 
for the flames to die down a little.” 

Next week is Thanksgiving,” said 
mother. W on’t it be fun to go down to 
grandmother’s for dinner % I wish that we 
might have a snowstorm before then.” 

I am thankful right now,” said Polly. 

I am thankful for you and father . and 
Peter and grandmother and this fire. I 
shall be thankful for popped corn, when I 
get some.” 

‘‘We will try it now,” said father. And 
he began to shake the popper over the 
coals. 

Pop, pop, pop, pop went the corn. The 
white kernels hopped up and down. They 
seemed to be trying to get out. 

“It is nearly done,” said Polly. “See! 
The popper is full.” 

Just at that minute the corn caught fire. 

“ Oh, oh 1 ” cried Polly. “ It will all 
burn up ! It will all burn up ! ” 

It did not. Father quickly blew out the 
flames. Some of the kernels were black. 
He poured the others into the warm pan. 
Mother put in salt and melted butter. 

Polly shelled more corn, and father 


176 


popped it. Soon the pan was full. Did 
anything ever taste so good as that hot, 
buttered popped corn ? 

At last father said, ‘^This celebration is 
almost over. I believe that it is long after 
bedtime.’’ 

Polly said, I am sure, now, that I am 
glad winter has come. I was not sure be- 
fore. I have had a good time at our winter 
party.” 

So have I,” said Peter. I am going 
to kiss everybody good night. I have had 
such a good time that I have lots of kisses 
in my face.” 

Pass them around then, my son,” said 
father. Then run upstairs to bed. Jack 
Frost’s party is finished.” 






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